All are welcome to join us for Churches United's 53rd Annual Delegate Assembly on March 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Bettendorf Presbyterian Church, 1200 Middle Rd.

Learn about Churches United's ministries and our accomplishments in the past year. Come and join us for an interesting, inspirational gathering!

Our featured speaker will be Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes:

*Senior Minister at the Riverside Church, New York.

*President of the Healing of the Nations Foundation

*Hailed by Newsweek magazine as one of the 12 "most effective preachers" in the English-speaking world

Churches United is trying to engage the faith community and the art community together. Through this new endeavor, there are some Christian artists of faith who will be sharing some of their artworks at the Delegate Assembly. They are:

Ted McElhiney, sculptor and painter, whose life-sized portrait of Bix Beiderbecke is one of his most recognized works.

William Karl Smith, conceptual sculptor, whose spiritual themes are prominent.

Kimberlyn Aust, Bettendorf photographer, whose Redemption and Grace series has been called "thought-provoking, meditative and moving."

Once the Delegate Assembly is over, the artists, along with other Christian artists, will move their works to the Bucktown Center for the Arts, for a showing called Expressions of Faith - 2D & 3D Art on March 28.

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-SouthPark Mall and Habitat for Humanity Builds Bond Ahead of Earth Day-

MOLINE, Illinois, Mar 17, 2014 - The future is even brighter for SouthPark Mall. Recently the property shared reinvestment plans that include the removal of the food court as well as the former Sears department store.

Construction is set to start in April with a formal grand opening set for November. Today, SouthPark Mall is building a new partnership with Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities.

Earth Day is set for April 22nd, but South Park Mall is celebrating early. As wood, bricks, and retail fixtures come down, new uses for those items are providing support for the work of Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities. Habitat will be rescuing furniture, wood tables, clothing fixtures, sinks, grid wall, metal shelving, lockers and more, prior to demolition. All these items will be donated by SouthPark to be resold by Habitat ReStore. Items from SouthPark will be available to the public at the Habitat ReStore Wed 10-7, Thurs and Fri 10-5 and Sat 10-3 beginning immediately. More information about the ReStore can be found at www.restoreqc.org.

Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities is a local bi-state affiliate of an international, ecumenical, Christian, non-profit organization that builds simple, decent, affordable houses for and in partnership with families in need who then purchase the homes from HFHQC on a no-interest mortgage. The Quad Cities affiliate was organized in 1993 by a group of Quad Citians who traveled to Homestead, Florida to assist with home building efforts after Hurricane Andrew. Since that time, HFHQC has built 73 homes.

"Proceeds from the sale of these items will help provide simple, decent, affordable housing to hard-working partner families," said Cindy Kuhn, Director, Habitat ReStore. "Our community benefits from reusing these items, rather than buying or producing new items. And these usable materials don't needlessly end up in our landfills."

Each home, generously subsidized by donated and/or discounted building supplies, materials and skilled labor and utilizing much volunteer labor currently costs about $90,000. These funds and volunteers come from churches, individuals, foundations, corporations, businesses and other community groups. HFHQC activities are governed by a local, elected volunteer Board of Directors which work through volunteer committees with coordination by the Executive Director.

"We are committed to building on our community relationships," said Aleshia Chiesa, Marketing Manager, SouthPark Mall. "Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities is a great cause and we are proud to offer our support."

For up to date information on the redevelopment of SouthPark Mall, visit www.shopsouthparkmall-il.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Macerich is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company's website at www.macerich.com.

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Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operating two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for abused women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men. The organization serves homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illness.

Christian Care's community meal site is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays Monday through Friday, and for breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. If you know of someone in need, call Christian Care's crisis hotline any hour of the day at (309) 788-2273 or visit online at christiancareqc.org.

MOLINE, IL -- Area college students who enjoy public television, along with volunteering, may wish to consider becoming a WQPT/PBS Ambassador. 

The program provides an opportunity for students to represent public television at a variety of events throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Ambassadors are an extension of the WQPT volunteer force representing the station at fairs, community and fundraising events, as well as on television, according to WQPT General Manager Mary Pruess. 

"Serving as a WQPT Ambassador is the perfect way for students to fulfill volunteerism requirements, while making a difference in the community," said Pruess added. 

For more information and to obtain an application by the April 18 deadline, visit wqpt.org/involved. More information is also available by calling (309) 796-2424.  

WQPT has been serving eastern Iowa and western Illinois for 30 years and is a media service of Western Illinois University.