Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409130003
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By FRANCES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
When the Rev. Gina Rhea, pastor, planned the class, she expected it to be attended mostly by parents of children who usually attend the summer Bible schools. A video on basic beliefs of the Disciples of Christ denomination was supposed to educate newcomers and refresh the minds of adults who had been in the church for many years.
Instead, she recalled, "When I stopped the video for some discussion, people began relating our church issues to what they were seeing. Leadership arose from within the group, and it took us three nights to get back to the video."
What resulted was a decision made - not by the minister or even the official board - to form one or more small groups within the congregation to develop a richer life with God through sharing with each other. Not a new idea, Rhea observes, but exciting to members concerned that the traditional programs at First Christian were not making much impact on the university town.
The church's board on Aug. 14 heard an appeal by Cindy McDaniel, one of the most enthusiastic of those in the small group, that it approve some new directions for lay leadership.
"The need for spiritual growth was on the hearts of several who attended the vacation Bible school adult class, and by the grace of God, we communicated this need to each other," McDaniel wrote in a statement for board members who in turn warmly approved the idea.
Details are in the planning stage, said Rhea, but many in the congregation are excited by the new direction, which is not intended to undermine the usual Sunday school classes but rather to augment them. The planners are working from faith, she said, and looking at the small-group concept as a direction from God.
Two other needs emerged from the Bible school group.
Some members are seeking training, or at least the advice of other church leaders, in order to minister more effectively to the sick, homebound or those in crisis situations. Rhea, with more than 250 active members to keep track of, said she does her best for immediate needs but lacks the time for necessary follow-up care.
The other need is a definite program to bring the church into closer touch with Radford University students. First Christian - on Tyler Avenue closer to students than many of the university buildings - has a new ally in the Rev. Roger Henderson of Newport, a former worker with the Baptist Student Union of Radford. He and Rhea, along with laity, are gathering ideas to keep students in touch with God even when religious affairs don't interest them.
It's easy to talk about keeping collegians in the church, but ministry to this age group is discouraging at best, Rhea has learned in her 15 years next to the campus. During that time, some individual students have been active at First Christian, but the potential always far exceeds the reality, she noted.
Rhea said she doesn't know why the adult Bible school class stirred up so much excitement this year. Its attendance remained high, and people of all ages came to offer ideas about their church.
A university community attracts many people with fresh ideas, Rhea has noticed, even though church leaders usually must face the reality of considerable change.
The weeknight sharing in the summer Bible class showed her, she said, that elderly members as well as the young often are open to new ideas and bring valuable insights from their years of work or experience in managing a household. In the small spiritual growth groups First Christian hopes to start, there will be, she hopes, an exchange of ideas that will create a closer community under God's guidance.
"The image of a journey of life with its many transitions - like children going to school or to college or the decline in health of parents - is important to me," Rhea said. For her, one of the greatest values of the church as an institution is to be a support on that journey.
Those in the community who would like to be part of the new projects, may call Rhea at 639-3696.
by CNB