July 19, 2004

HELM's board of directors approved the name change in May to reflect the division's new direction: nurturing leaders for the church and the world in partnership with all areas of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), including educational institutions and student ministry programs.

The new name meant a new logo.

In the logo, the prow of a ship pushes to the upper right, water rippling on either side of the ship. Falling across the prow is the shadow of a mast - a shadow in the shape of the St. Andrew cross depicted on the Chalice, the denomination's official logo. Below the image is "HELM" in block letters with the Chalice replacing the left vertical leg of the H. The logo's colors are four shades of blue and silver with hints of black.

While staff and board members had input on the logo throughout its creation, the logo was created in-house by Communications Director Brad Lyons and summer intern Casey Abney. A recent graduate of Texas Christian University with a degree in studio art, Abney is a DHE Leadership Fellow and designed a coloring book distributed at the 2003 General Assembly in Charlotte.

"There are so many ways to look at this logo," said HELM President Dennis Landon. "Leadership requires the courage to head into unfamiliar places. The ripples in the water represent the ways one person's actions can affect so many lives. The shadow of the cross is a sign that the sun - and the Son - are at our back. Incorporating the chalice into the lettering was the final touch that made this logo one that represents our ministry so well."

The new logo will grace HELM's new web site, www.helmdisciples.org, which will debut in August, along with new e-mail addresses for staff. Phone numbers and the mailing address - 11477 Olde Cabin Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141-7130 - will remain the same.

HELM helps students discover how they will change the world in partnership with Disciples congregations, higher education institutions, and campus ministry programs. Including cooperative efforts with local congregations, HELM helped distribute more than $270,000 in scholarships to 141 recipients in 2003.