NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS — I worshiped final Sunday morning with the Legacy Church of Christ on this Fort Price suburb.
An invite from a pal, Stewart McKenzie, to speak about The Christian Chronicle in his grownup Bible class introduced me to city.
Bobby Ross Jr., proper, along with his pal Stewart McKenzie on the Legacy Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas.
The journey proved a double blessing Sunday night time as I obtained to attend the Briar Church of Christ in Azle, Texas — about 25 miles away — as my brother, Scott Ross, stuffed in because the visitor preacher.
Legacy is a giant church. Briar is a small one. However every impressed me equally with the pleasant greetings from brothers and sisters in Christ and the biblical sermons (Tim Corridor is the preaching minister at Legacy).
Individuals continuously ask how usually I journey in my position as editor-in-chief of the Chronicle.
I’ve by no means actually had a strong reply.
Till now.
At first of 2024, my spouse, Tamie, purchased me a each day diary journal. I began taking Sunday notes in it (together with itemizing my whereabouts) and jotting down a weekly prayer checklist.
Based mostly on my journal, I can inform you that I’ve spent 31 of the yr’s first 49 Sundays at my dwelling congregation, the Edmond Church of Christ in Oklahoma.
Associated: Planes, trains and vehicles (and even bikes)
Most of these Sundays, I’ve sat within the balcony and slipped out earlier than the ultimate bulletins to assist in the kindergarten class taught for many years by Camey Johnson, a tremendous scholar of God’s phrase.
I really like the Edmond church, the place Tamie and I’ve spent many of the previous 35 years (besides for 3 years away after I labored for The Related Press in Tennessee and Texas from 2002 to 2005).
However I additionally love visiting different congregations throughout the U.S. — and even world wide.
Apart from the Sundays I’ve already talked about, the place have the yr’s different 17 Lord’s Days taken me?
Nicely, I began the yr on the Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Brentwood, Tenn., becoming a member of my associates Steve and Holly Holladay whereas on a reporting journey to the Nashville space.
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I spent a special Sunday within the Tennessee capital — whereas on the town for the annual Lads to Leaders conference — researching a piece on a church planted after the sale of the previous Hermitage Church of Christ. That afternoon, I caught up with my pal Chris McCurley, minister for the Walnut Avenue Church of Christ in Dickson, Tenn., to report on his congregation’s new strategy to Sunday nights.
After a mass taking pictures on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl victory parade, I visited the Better Metropolitan Church of Christ in that Missouri metropolis.
One Sunday took me to the Roseville Church of Christ within the Minneapolis space, the place I interviewed minister Richard Inyang after he almost died in a fireplace.
Bobby Ross Jr., proper, with minister Richard Inyang on a reporting journey to Minnesota.
One other Sunday took me to the Canadian Church of Christ within the Texas Panhandle, the place I delved into aid efforts after a significant wildfire.
Nonetheless one other Sunday took me to the Seabrook Church of Christ in New Hampshire (morning) and the Kittery Church of Christ in Maine (night), the place I talked to of us about these two New England congregations turning into one physique.
I spent different Sundays at:• The Metro Church of Christ in Sterling Heights, Mich., doing a story on a pro-life ministry;
• The Nice Valley Church of Christ in Bellvue, Colo., doing a narrative on the legacy of the late Bob and Helen Bland;
• The Bridgewood Church of Christ in Fort Price, doing a story on a “bread and Bibles” ministry serving the group.
• And the Metropolitan Church of Christ in Carson, Calif., doing a story on Black Christians’ election perspective.
In fact, not each Sunday away from dwelling has been work associated.
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I worshiped twice in particular person — as soon as on trip and as soon as on the job — on the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston, the place my pal David Duncan preaches. I additionally “attended” Memorial’s on-line service a few instances whereas coping with medical or climate considerations.
A number of instances I visited the Greenwood Church of Christ within the Decatur, Texas, space — the place my father, Bob Ross, preached till the congregation’s latest closing — whereas spending time with household.
One other time I worshiped with the North Davis Church of Christ in Arlington earlier than a Sunday afternoon Texas Rangers sport. (Possibly I’ve talked about that I’m a Rangers fan?)
And sure, I spent one Sunday morning within the Pittsburgh airport awaiting a flight dwelling after the Faith Information Affiliation annual convention.
As I mirror again on 2024, I thank God for my Sunday experiences — for the weekly blessing of the Lord’s Day and the various alternatives to listen to classes from God’s phrase and partake of the Lord’s Supper with fellow Christians.
I’m grateful for the frequent bond that binds us collectively as Christians and the possibility to expertise it up shut and in particular person — generally at dwelling, different instances on the highway.
I’m grateful for the frequent bond that binds us collectively as Christians and the possibility to expertise it up shut and in particular person — generally at dwelling, different instances on the highway.
Lord prepared and barring breaking information elsewhere, the ultimate three Sundays of 2024 will see me in a well-recognized pew at dwelling.
However I’m already enthusiastic about 2025 and praying that God blesses the Chronicle — and me — with extra alternatives to journey and inform tales that inform, encourage and unite our fellowship.
BOBBY ROSS JR. is Editor-in-Chief of The Christian Chronicle. Attain him at [email protected].
