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Across the Nation: Preventing elder fraud, promoting gospel choirs and more quick takes
Our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ across the U.S.
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Across the Nation is our monthly rundown of news briefs, links and quotes from Churches of Christ across the U.S. Got an idea for this column? Email Calvin Cockrell at [email protected].
Featured image (above): Aaron Howard, assistant professor of ethics and reconciliation at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., leads the Lipscomb Gospel Choir.
MISSOURI
ROLLA — Scammers defrauded Americans over age 60 of at least $2.4 billion in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Some victims have lost their life savings to this “elder fraud,” said Jeff McKune, an elder of the Rolla Church of Christ.
Jeff McKune
To combat these crimes, the Rolla church has developed scenario-based training to help educate the elderly and their families about the different approaches and scams that are often used.
Investment scams, imposter scams, romance scams, tech support scams and lottery scams are among the most common cons — with perpetrators often contacting their targets via social media.
The program, developed by church members familiar with cybersecurity, includes 16 scenarios.
The course is available free of charge via the church’s website, and church leaders hope to share it with other congregations, civic groups and senior organizations.
McKune also believes the training could be used as part of a seminar that churches could organize to reach out to their communities.
“This is just a huge problem, and our church family wants to help in this fight,” he said.
ACCESS THE TRAINING program at seekgrowservelove.org/eftraining.
TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE — Lipscomb University has received a $250,000 grant from the Creative Arts Collective for Christian Life and Faith.
The funds will support a national initiative designed to educate, connect and sustain collegiate gospel choirs across the nation. It’s called “Joyful Noise in the Wilderness: A Collegiate Gospel Choir Network and Conference.”
Aaron Howard, assistant professor of ethics and reconciliation in Lipscomb’s College of Bible and Ministry and founding director of the Lipscomb Gospel Choir, leads the project. It will culminate in a three-day collegiate gospel choir conference hosted at Lipscomb in October.
Related: Pair of attorneys from Churches of Christ challenge Zuckerberg in social media case
“Gospel music has always been a powerful vehicle for faith, resilience and hope, yet many people are unaware of how deeply it continues to be nurtured within colleges and universities,” Howard said. “This grant allows us to build a national network of collegiate gospel choir directors and students who can encourage one another, exchange resources and celebrate the beauty and significance of this music together.”
The conference will feature a live recording with a 150- to 200-voice mass choir of students from universities across the U.S. The project also will include the development of a nationwide network of collegiate gospel choir directors who will convene monthly in virtual sessions. In addition, the project will result in an album being recorded and an accompanying songbook published.
NEWSMAKERS
BAPTIZED — SEMAZHAE ALFORD of the Millington Church of Christ in Tennessee. CARTER AUXIER and LOGAN BENNETT of the Paintsville Church of Christ in Kentucky. MONICA BROWN, JADE MAYBERRY and JUSTIN MCKINNEY of the Palm Beach Lakes Church of Christ in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. PATRICIA ISAACS of the Blue Springs Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, Ky. P. MAYWEATHER of the Dallas West Church of Christ in Texas. LANE SATTRE of the North MacArthur Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. CHAD VAN SCHALKWYK of the Athlone Church of Christ in Cape Town, South Africa. KAMI WOODY of the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. ABBY ZAHRNDT of the Piedmont Road Church of Christ in Marietta, Ga.
Brooke Landes, Gail Heiderich and Lee Williams
SENT — BROOKE LANDES has committed to work with a Church of Christ in Eindhoven, Netherlands, for two years through the Helpers in Missions program of the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. She is a 2025 graduate of Oklahoma Christian University.
HONORED — GAIL HEIDERICH is the namesake of a new, annual award presented by NationsUniversity, an accredited, online univerity associated with Churches of Christ. The Gail Heiderich Spiritual Formation Award honors the former missionary to Brazil and alumna of NationsUniversity. LEE WILLIAMS for his years of service as an elder of the Oakland Church of Christ in Southfield, Mich. “Brother Lee has faithfully served with generosity, wisdom and a servant’s heart,” church members said. “His impact reaches far beyond Oakland and has touched the broader metro Detroit Church of Christ family in meaningful ways.”
Josh Ross and Karen López
NAMED — LARRY G. AUTREY, JACK RICH and JOSH ROSS to the board of trustees of Abilene Christian University in Texas. BRANDON BABITZKE and DON BRANSCUM, elders of the Crosstown Church of Christ in Tulsa, Okla. JANET DONALDSON, vice president for research and LEE ANNE PARIS, dean of library services and educational technology for Abilene Christian University. DR. KAREN LÓPEZ, dentist for the James Moody Adams Clinic at Baxter Institute, a ministry training school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, associated with Churches of Christ. SCOTT SIMPSON, director of development for Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver. REED SUTTON, athletic director for Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala. MARCUS T. WATKINS to the board of the Andrew J. Hairston Liberian Missions Foundation Inc. Watson is minister for the Simpson Street Church of Christ in Atlanta and the successor to Andrew Hairston, who died in early 2025. The foundation supports Wells-Hairston High School in Monrovia, Liberia.
