ICCC Annual Conference, July 19-23rd

The 60th Anniversary of the International Council of Community Churches was a lively, joyous and colorful celebration of God's amazing grace! Held in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Conference brought together delegates from all across the nation and all around the world. Together, those attending the Conference celebrated the 60-year long journey of the Council which began in 1950 as a courageous joining of an all-black group of Community churches with an all-white group. The purpose then, as now, was to demonstrate that racial unity can be achieved through our common faith. At the time, the I.C.C.C. was the first and largest fully integrated religious group in the world.

Pastor Martin Singley delivered a keynote address during the Tuesday morning worship service. Using Deuteronomy 34:1-12 as the text, Marty urged the delegates to look forward to the future, imagining the groups we must actively reach out to include in our fellowship. His sermon, "On The Mountaintop", called the I.C.C.C. to seek out new relationships with people from other religious backgrounds and ethnicities. Citing the experience of a rabbi friend who was called upon to care for the Muslim families of those who perished in the crash of Egypt Air flight 990 in 1999, Marty recalled his friend's words that, "Everyone cries in the same language." He went on to say that what ultimately unites all people is not a common theology, but our common humanity.

The Conference offered a variety of worship experiences and workshops for both youth and adults and culminated in a joyous Communion Service on Friday evening.

Tellico Village Community Church owes it's beginning to the I.C.C.C. We encourage other independent churches with a passion for interracial and ethnic reconciliation to consider joining our exciting fellowship!

The Rodriguez Family Moves Into a New Habitat Home...

Thursday, June 24th was a very special day in the life of the Rodriguez family! That's when dozens of family members, friends and Habitat for Humanity volunteers gathered to celebrate the dedication of their beautiful new home in the Hope Haven subdivision in Loudon. Smiles and tears alike flowed freely as Jose and Maria accepted the keys. Along with their children - Omar, Leo, Maria and Cesar - the proud new homeowners opened the front door and invited everyone inside to see their house and enjoy a wonderful hot tamale luncheon.

The Rodriguez home was made possible through the hard work of all the family members who invested more than 500 hours of sweat equity, and dozens of volunteers from Tellico Village Community Church. The project was funded by a $30,000 gift to the Loudon County Habitat for Humanity from the church.

Each Habitat family purchases their home through Habitat's affordable mortgage program.