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National Association of Congregational Christian Churches,  P.O. Box 288, Oak Creek, WI  53154
414-764-1620 
Email: naccc@naccc.org   Web Site: http://www.naccc.org

by Mike Fales, Director of Church Relations and Campus Ministries at Olivet College in Michigan. If you have an idea you would like to share with our NA congregations call Mike at (269) 749-7624 or email him at mfales@olivetcollege.edu

Perhaps no other event in our Judo-Christian history reminds us more of peace on earth than the birth of our Lord and Savior that we celebrate every year at this time. The vivid image of His humble birth amongst the animals in a Bethlehem stable and the coming together of the rich and powerful with the poor and powerless in awe and homage brings comfort to us all in these days of terror and war. A man of peace, Jesus taught us to love our neighbor. Not just the neighbor who looks and acts like us, but even, especially, the neighbor who is foreign to us, the hardest to know and to love.

In a bold move that promotes peace through understanding Rev. Bob Koch, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Durand, Michigan and the current Moderator of the Michigan Conference of Congregational Christian Churches used the fall meeting of the Michigan Conference to help us learn to love those whose religion is different than ours.

Devoting a substantial portion of this year's program to the other major religions of the world, with some logistical help from the Rev. Dr. Roy Backus, Bob brought all of us a little closer together.

The meeting which was held at the Olivet Congregational Church the third weekend in October featured a presentation on Islam by Dr. Omar Alsououbani, Director of the Islamic Center of East Lansing. Dr. Alsououbani stressed the similarities with Christians rather than the differences. In a presentation the following day, Suresh Acharya and his wife Priya talked about their Hindu beliefs. Both are natives of Nepal and graduates of Olivet College where Suresh is the Director of Information Technology.

The only way we will ever achieve peace on earth is through knowledge. We don't have to always agree or to live our lives alike but we must at least learn to understand and respect each other. Many thanks to Bob Koch for pushing us outside our comfort zone and for helping us to walk in the path of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NOMINEES SOUGHT FOR CHARLES RUSH AWARD
The Missionary Society is accepting nominations for The Charles Rush Award. This award is presented to minority persons who are working with Congregational Christian Churches toward worthwhile social and personal goals. The Award is intended to honor those who exemplify the excellent spirit of Charles Rush, and to emphasize the importance of Christian social involvement. The Rush Award is presented at the Annual Meeting of the NACCC. Please send letters of nomination to The Missionary Society, c/o Ruth Mahnke, PO Box 288, Oak Creek, WI 53154

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