News

On Saturday, May 18, eighteen people got out and hiked 20 miles in the rain and mud on the Appalachian Trail to raise funds for Micah’s Backpack, the Refugee Welcome Network, and other HARC programs. The group raised more than $20,000 through registrations, fundraising and a 2-1 match from the God’s Grace Fund!  Becky Fritts was the top fundraising individual with $2,450, and her team Otterbein UMC – Micah’s BP was the top fundraising team.

Though the weather was bleak most of the day, participants showed great joyful spirits full tenacity as they hiked in Virginia from Snicker’s gap north to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, with most continuing onto the bridge over the Maryland line.  Everyone completed at least 20 miles safely, taking from 10.5-11.5 hours to finish.  In spite of the rain and length it was a great day of personal achievement, meeting new people or catching up with old friends, and raising money for a good cause. The group was grateful to have an Afghan refugee, Mahboobullah, hiking with them, an energetic and friendly young man new to the U.S. last month.

Thanks so much to HARC’s support team (Ed Poling, Kyle Powderly, Beth Johnston, Sue Wert, Bill Pike) for keeping the hikers fed and transporting them to the start and back to their vehicles!  Thanks also to Girls, Inc. for loaning us two buses for transportation.

Donations to Challenge Hikers are still welcome and can be made HERE.

See the list of Challenge Hike finishers on our Challenge Hike Wall of Fame.

This is Part 1 of the 12th Annual HARC Hike. Learn more here on how you can participate in the main HARC Hike on June 8, with 4K, 10K and half marathon options.

Summer is approaching and the Refugee Welcome Network (RWN) is seeking window air conditioners to place in apartments of refugees to keep them comfortable in the summer heat. RWN continues to grow as more refugees settle in our area, so we are also in need of volunteers for the following roles: Household & Furnishings, Workforce Development, Family Allies, Legal Team (no legal experience required), and Fundraising. Learn more HERE about these roles and the RWN. If interested, please contact RWN at refugeewelcome@harc.datachievereview.xyz.

This Spring brought new life to two refugee families – both had the joy of welcoming home new baby boys!

Fawad and Nargis tried for 15 years to have a child, with no success, until now.  Little Benjamin is truly a miracle for this couple, who are overjoyed with their new son.  Fawad, a pediatrician in Afghanistan who worked for the government, is now able to care for his own child, and Nargis, a skilled seamstress will keep him well cared for and clothed beautifully as she works from home in her craft.

This family arrived in Hagerstown a little over a year ago with Special Immigrant Visas. After some help from the Refugee Welcome Network (RWN), they are now living independently, with Fawad working at Amazon while he works toward reestablishing a career in medicine.

Aref and Friba arrived in Hagerstown with their two young children in January 2023 seeking asylum from the Taliban in Afghanistan. Aref was a journalist and government official in Afghanistan and Friba was a nurse in a hospital.  Adjusting to life in the U.S. has been challenging for them as they had to wait many months for work permits, and their son has had several health issues.

The couple persevered with a great strength and help from the RWN, and they are now living independently, though life is still not easy.  Aref is working at Amazon and Friba was taking nursing classes until she had to go on bed rest with her pregnancy.  The couple was thrilled to welcome a new son to the family in April!

RWN members are overjoyed at the two new blessings. As we have gotten to know these and other families, they have become a part of our family and our community.  We thank God for them!

Learn more about the Refugee Welcome Network and how you can support this work.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church has 43 kindergarten-sized chairs, 17 nursery-sized chairs, and 5 adult-sized chairs available to give away on a first-come basis. If you are interested, please contact the church office at 301.733.7550 and speak with Alison.

The goal of Person-Centered Spiritual Visitation Training is the development of personal confidence in the visitation ministry. Specific objectives are:

• To become aware of oneself as a minister and of the ways one’s ministry affects people.
• To utilize proper infectious control measures to ensure the health and safety of patients and themselves.
• To become aware of the strengths and resources of one’s religious tradition and how that impacts another person.
• To understand and utilize the clinical method of learning.
• To learn to utilize support, confrontation, and clarification for the integration of personal attributes and pastoral functioning.
• To understand the theological issues arising from experience and to enhance the interface between theology and the behavioral sciences in understanding the human condition.
• To become aware of how one’s attitudes, values, and assumptions affect one’s ministry.
• To develop the ability to work as a pastoral member of an interdisciplinary team.
• To become aware of how social conditions and structures affect the lives of others and oneself.

Download a brochure with more details, a poster and/or a volunteer application

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Associate Minister curates a community of youth and adults who have fun sharing church. The Associate Minister resources mission ministries of our congregation. Annually, the Associate
Minister develops a ministry out of their passion for serving Jesus and the community. The
Associate Minister will share worship, pastoral and teaching opportunities with the Senior Minister
on a scheduled frequency.

Download a full description of the position responsibilities and requirements here.

Note: Disciples of Christ ordination not necessary.

To Apply:
Contact
Rev. Dr. Marcus Leathers, Regional Minister of the Christian Church of the Capital Area
RM@cccadisciples.org
202-823-0800
www.cccadisciples.org