Grand Prairie, Texas  Leaders from the a cappella churches of Christ and independent Christian churches  two related but estranged Christian groups  plan to reunite Oct. 27-29 at Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie, Texas for the Ministry Impact '04: Together conference. As many as 1,000 ministers and elders are expected to gather for the event designed to train and inspire leaders from two separate groups of churches that ironically trace their roots to a "Christian Unity" movement.
That movement (which has come to be known as the Restoration Movement) was launched nearly 200 years ago by a group of ministers in Kentucky and West Virginia who broke away from the denominational churches they served, intending to restore New Testament Christianity by abandoning denominational names and uniting all believers under the name "Christians." Ironically that unity movement produced at least three distinct factions: the a cappella churches of Christ, the independent Christian churches, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Previous efforts at reuniting the Restoration Movement have been marginally successful at best. This time, however, the focus is not to merge the groups, but to discover how they can work cooperatively to accomplish their mission.
"It has long been my contention that we will unify faster when we unite around compassion for the lost rather than trying to iron out our differences," said Marcus Bigelow, president of Stadia New Church Strategies, a major sponsor of Ministry Impact '04.
Restoration Movement churches around the globe are involved in thousands of ministries  from world missions and evangelistic outreach to care for the poor and disenfranchised. At Ministry Impact '04 those churches hope to multiply the success of their numerous ministries by learning how to work together.
Rick Atchley, preacher at Richland Hills Church of Christ, Richland Hills, Texas, one of the headlining speakers at Ministry Impact ‘04, made his support for this "unity for a purpose" movement plainly clear.
"I believe with all my heart, in my lifetime, we can have a family reunion. I plan to devote the second half of my life to seeing reconciliation among the a cappella and instrumental churches."
For more information see: www.togetherconference.com.
