Rev. Steve Willis on Life as a Police Chaplain in Vegas

Although I’ve never desired to be a cop, even as a small child – I’ve always respected what a difficult job it is for those who are sworn to “serve and protect”.   In our culture, police are more scrutinized and more criticized than virtually any other group.  Of course, there have been multiple instances when police officers should be scrutinized and held accountable.  There have been instances of abuse of power and excessive force.  There are (and have been) wide-spread instances of profiling, racism, and corruption.  However, I believe that the overwhelming majority of our men and women in blue take on that difficult job because they want to be part of making the community in which we all live a better place.

Likewise, as a member of the clergy, I too have a desire to make our community a better place.  I too would like to utilize my training and skills to help people and to make a difference.  I also must admit that (despite the respect and trust that we desire) members of the clergy have also been guilty of some very unethical and ungodly practices – often inflicted on those we are called to shepherd and teach.  So, what am I to do with this information?  How can I help be part of the solution instead of just lamenting about the problem?

In my case, I decided that in addition to my duties as Senior Pastor of FCC-Las Vegas, that I would also serve as a volunteer chaplain with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.  Once I cleared the very extensive background checks and completed their training and orientation, I was assigned to serve the Convention Center Area Command – the city’s largest substation and the one that patrols the LV Strip.  It has been an eye-opening experience, to say the least.  The Department asks its chaplains to serve at least 20 hours per month.  Sometimes that includes time in the substation getting to know officers and civilian staff.  However, most of the time, it means that I’m riding along with a patrol officer, (equipped with my own ballistic vest and uniform – but not a weapon), and being a part of every call that they respond to during that shift. 

On my very first shift, what really struck me, and continues to make an impact – is that when an officer makes a traffic stop, he or she will place their right hand on the back of the car as they approach the driver.  The reason for that is that IF the driver were to open fire and mortally wound or kill the approaching officer, then at least that officer’s fingerprints would be on the car as evidence of that officer’s presence.

I’ve always heard that police officers place their lives on the line every single day.  But I’ve learned that statement isn’t clear enough.  Police officers place their lives on the line at every call, in-between calls, and on their off days.  In most cities, police officers are referred to as “the best of the best”.  So rather than complain about all that’s wrong with our police departments and society in general – aren’t we as Christians (and especially the clergy) called to do more?  I’m proud to do whatever I can, to serve those who are called to serve and protect my community.  I challenge you to find a way to serve your community (beyond the church) as well.

Steve Willis, Senior Pastor

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Las Vegas, Nevada 

Mile Marker #93: living the prayer

By Revs. Don and Susan Dewey, Co-Regional Ministers

“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.”

John 17:20-21a

Susan and I, along with over 4,000 other Disciples from across the US and Canada and around the world, gathered together in Indianapolis for our General Assembly this July. It was an exciting time, filled with wonderful worship, fellowship, business sessions, learning opportunities and networking with colleagues and friends across the life of the whole church.

We of course were very proud to have our own Tom Perring as First Vice Moderator of the General Assembly leading the worships for this amazing event. In addition, our youth and young adults helped with worship, business and other activities throughout the Assembly. Our PSWR pride shone brightly on the first night as the Rev. Jose Morales brought the opening message that challenged us to re-think our notions of unity: “The paradox and promise of the Gospel is that whereas false unity is safe yet deadly, true unity is dangerous yet life-giving.”

We also celebrated that the PSWR will continue to be represented in the biennial with the election of Belva Brown Jordan as Moderator-Elect and Eula Nicola Pagdilao for her election onto the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) General Board.

One of the very special moments of the Assembly was the farewell celebration for Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins who finished her 12 years as our General Minister and President. We were reminded of the historic significance of her election as the first woman to be named as head of a mainline denominational communion. In addition, we again were filled a deep sense of pride as we recalled that Dr. Watkins gave the address at President Barrack Obama’s inauguration.  We also witnessed all the amazing work that Dr. Watkins accomplished in her 12years as GMP and offered tearful goodbyes as she closed her time in this position.

Of course perhaps the most anticipated moment of the Assembly was around the election of our new General Minister and President the Rev. Teresa Hord Owens. With the announcement of the overwhelming affirmation of her election, the entire Assembly erupted in celebration as Disciples witnessed yet another historic moment in electing not only another woman to head our denomination but a woman of color! Rev. Owens will be the first person of color as an African American to hold the position as General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

With the Assemblies theme being “ONE” based on the scripture from John’s Gospel, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.” John 17:20-21a, Rev. Owens delivered an inspiring message calling for all Disciples to again claim our calling to reflect this prayer of Jesus in all we do.

She said, “Our striving for unity is perhaps the most powerful way in which we bear witness that the love of God is real and present in the world. If we can hold one another in community, even in the presence of tensions that result from human differences of various dimensions of identity, socio-economic status, geography, theology and politics, we can be an example to the world to say that we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and his church are so important that we can work together despite those differences to ensure that God’s message of love is shared and lived out in the world.”

Certainly in today’s contentious climate both politically and religiously this message is needed perhaps more than ever. We seem to be bombarded daily with things aiming to divide us along every line and create hostility, distrust and suspicion of the “other.” Rev. Owens goes on to say, “This is not an easy vision, and it will take not just the best of what is in us, but it will also take the best of what God can do in and through us.”

As we look ahead our Regional Gathering on October 21, we will continue this vision with our theme, “FAITHFUL IN THE TENSION.”  We are pleased and excited to have the Rev. April Lewton as our keynote speaker and look forward to the inspiring and challenging word she will bring for us here in the PSWR.

I close with these words from our new General Minister and President, “I pray that together we can provide the world with an example of the radical love and hospitality of God that will allow us to be witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this time. May they look at our fellowship, with all its diversity, with all its struggles, and marvel at God’s goodness and love.”

Together on the journey,    

Don and Susan
Your Regional Ministers

Read more about General Assembly highlights here. 

2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

by Paul Turner

Greetings in Jesus Name!

Thank you for your prayers and response to Global Ministries’ call to establish a critical presence in DR Congo. Your financial contributions made it possible to make it to the half-way point of a four-year assignment with the Community of Disciples of Christ in Congo (CDCC). In fact, thanks to your commitment, and other contributors who share a passion for mission, the goal to raise enough support for the entire four years has now been met.  To God be the Glory!

This July marks two years since I arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to advise and consult with the CDCC in its community and economic development efforts. The Disciples churches in DR Congo are doing a tremendous work to meet the needs of people and communities impacted by years of conflict, poverty and neglect. Inspired by the church, the people have a mind to work, not only to restore and transform lives, but whole communities as well.

It has truly been an awe-inspiring journey. The joy of seeing faces light up with surprise when they learn that someone from the United States has been sent to live among them never gets old. Indeed, the most important lesson I’ve learned so far is the power of presence in mission partnerships. The sense of shared purpose provides dignity, encouragement and motivation for all involved, and demonstrates the true essence of Koinonia.

Consider all that’s been done in just two years:

o   Secured new funding and partnerships to support clean drinking water resources

o   Profiled successful climate adaptation efforts by local communities

o   Equipped congregations with the knowledge to create community impactful seed projects

o   Accompanied delegations to six posts to support local training

o   Created the Office of Development at CDCC to share best practices and improve reporting

o   Expanded access to markets for goods and services produced by women in micro-credit groups

o   Visited churches, hospitals, homes, schools, universities and seminaries

o   Attended funerals, weddings, baby dedications, ordinations, and baptisms

As a member of the Arc en Ciel Chorale at Nouvelle Cite Parish Disciples of Christ, I have ministered in song at many church events in Mbandaka.  This has been a rewarding ministry because we are more than just a chorale…we are a benevolent organization, a prayer ministry and a support group.

The stage is being set for 2018 to include a new urban development agenda for Disciple churches in the capital city of Kinshasa. There is no doubt that the next two years will be an exciting time as we await the possibility of democratic elections, new Disciples posts and expanding activities for the CDCC development office . 

Again, thank you for your partnership and prayers for CDCC.

Yours in Christ,
Paul H. Turner

Paul Turner is a member of Abundant Life Christian Church of Los Angeles and currently serves as the Global Ministries Missionary with the Community of Disciples of Christ in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Paul is a Project Consultant on various community development projects designed to increase the quality of life for communities served by Disciples of Christ churches.

Mile Marker #92: Thanks for Good Work

by Revs. Don and Susan Dewey, Co-Regional Ministers

“Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” - Philippians 1:3-6 (MSG)

Summer has been heating up! Not only have we already experienced record temperatures across the southland but activities in the life of the PSWR have also been rising, and it will continue through the summer!

We kicked off the summer with an awesome Young Adult event, “Young Adult Disciples in Action” (YADA) on May 27th with Halima Hudson, Rev. Daphne Gascot Arias, and Rev. Spencer Burke as speakers. There were over 40 Young Adults attending!

Thanks to Associate Regional Minister B.J. Barlow and a fantastic crew of adult sponsors, our summer youth programs are simply amazing! Early in June, a fun day in the sun was planned as over 30 youth and adults spent the day deep-sea fishing off the coast of Catalina Island! And yes, they caught fish!

A few days later, a team of twelve youth and four adults traveled to Hawaii for a weeklong mission trip in paradise with our three congregations on the island of Oahu. They were divided up into three smaller teams, and each team was hosted by one of the congregations, where they spent the week learning about the Hawaiian culture, building relationships with members of the local church, and working on various service projects. The projects ranged from leading a VBS program at one church, to cleaning up beaches, working in a food pantry, planting taro, and more!

Susan and I, along with our Associate Regional Ministers Young Jun Yang and Young Lan Kim, focused on our new Chuukese fellowship that is nesting at First Christian Church Honolulu. We gave an overview of our Disciple history and polity as well as Boundary Training and other helpful and informative information.

Thanks to our Camp and Conference committee, a wonderful summer of fun, learning, laughter and spiritual formation will be going on at all six of our camps through the end of July. We offer these experiences, starting with our Wee Camp for 3 year olds to our high school 12th graders and graduating seniors. Directors and counselors who have a commitment to young people, to the church and to God, lead each camp. Please pray for all those who will be a part of this life-changing time at our summer camps.

We are very excited to again be sending five youth and six Young Adults to attend the upcoming General Assembly. This has proved in the past to be a life-changing experience for developing our young people into significant leaders into the future. There they will catch a glimpse of the broad work of our Disciples church, as they interact with persons from across the US and Canada as well as those serving in mission around the world.

As a part of our commitment to Global Missions and deepening the experiences of our youth and young adults, a group will be traveling to South Korea in mid-July for a mission/learning adventure. This is a continuation of a partnership begun in 2015 when Susan and I, along with Associate Regional Ministers Rev. Young Jun Yang and Rev. Young Lan Kim traveled there to explore a possible partnership with the PROK (Presbyterians of the Republic of Korea) in Gwangju.

Then in the summer of 2016, a dozen youth from South Korea spent three weeks with us here in the PSWR, learning about our Region, the Disciples, and building relationships. This summer, we are sending our youth delegation as a part of the partnership exchange of learning and relationship building.

In addition to our youth attending General Assembly, both Susan and I and many representatives of PSWR congregations and pastors with also be attending. This General Assembly will be a very important one as we say goodbye to the Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, who has served as our General Minister and President for the past twelve years! We will also be electing a new GMP, the Rev. Terri Hord Owens, who is the proposed candidate. We have been privileged here in the PSWR to have had an opportunity to meet her and hear her vision for guiding our Disciples into a new future.  We are very excited about Rev. Owens!

Following General Assembly, Susan and I will be taking part of our sabbatical leave. As a part of our call as Regional Ministers, there is to be a three-month Sabbatical every five years. In September, we will have served ten years of our two 6-year terms as your Regional Ministers. In consultation with Personnel and Regional Board, we will be splitting up our three months into two 6-week times. We will take six weeks this year (2017) and 6 weeks next year (2018). Susan and I will also be overlapping our 6 weeks so that we are both gone together for only four weeks.

Beginning August 1, Susan will be on Sabbatical until September 15, 2017. I will be on Sabbatical beginning August 14 until September 30. We have asked Associate Regional Minister Rev. Dr. JoAnn Bynum, to serve as Interim during the four weeks that both Susan and I will be on Sabbatical together. In addition we have prepared all our staff to be ready to address any needs or concerns that may arise in our absence. We are more than confident of their ability to manage the Region while we are away.

On August 4-5, the pastors and congregations of our Hispanic Disciples here will gather for their Assembly, which will be held at Chapman University. Then near the end of September, our Hispanic pastors will meet for a two-day retreat of fellowship, worship, study and visioning. Please keep these events in your prayers.

As this busy summer ends and fall begins, we will be preparing for our Regional Gathering to be held at First Christian Church, Pomona on Saturday, October 21. Our theme for this gathering is: “Faithful in the Tension”, with our scripture focus from James 1:2-4. We are very pleased to have the Rev. April Lewton, Vice President of Development and Marketing for the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as our speaker. There will also be wonderful worship experiences as well as learning workshops and opportunities for fun and fellowship.

Whew! These are just some of the things that will be going on here in the PSWR this summer. We are truly grateful for all the support, prayers, and leadership that make all of this ministry possible. Susan and I are very proud and honored to be serving as your Regional Ministers and want to thank you all for all you do to give witness to the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and expand the realm of God here.

We pray that you will find rest, renewal, and renewed energy this summer for the mission and ministry entrusted to each of us. You remain in our hearts and prayers.

Together on the journey,

Don and Susan,
Your Co-Regional Ministers

Hatchery LA Features "The Great Spiritual Migration"

by Spencer Burke, Executive Director, Hatchery LA

I recently met up with Brian McLaren, long-time friend of the Pacific Southwest Region, to learn about his new book, The Great Spiritual Migration. While some people are lamenting the decline in church attendance and membership, Brian has a different view. He believes people are not “leaving the church” but rather are migrating from one expression of the Good News to another. He highlights how movements of God are connecting with institutions and it’s this combination that is a very hopeful aspect of the migration. Another hopeful and beautiful element of the great spiritual migration is they way it is opening up opportunities for millennials to join and to lead for the next generation. 

Listen in on our conversation to hear more about how Brian thinks the Disciples of Christ – and especially our region with the Hatchery LA initiatives – is uniquely positioned to help our world migrate to a place of spiritual belonging.

Video link: https://www.facebook.com/hatcheryla/videos/1868960393344486/