CHANGE IS NOT EASY

In my last letter, I talked about how New Jersey is a “different world”… but really, it’s more like college life is a different world.

When a freshman walks onto the college campus, he/she is very aware of the differences from home life. Sometimes these differences stem from their ethnic cultures. Often students will start to feel alone, misunderstood, and frustrated by the second month of the semester… unless they meet a friend… someone else who may feel alone or scared but chooses to smile and say “hello”.

Beyond college life, many people are scared of what they do not know or understand and often that leads to assimilation or isolation. However, when someone is bold enough to engage with another person made in the likeness of God, they choose freedom over the bondage of fear.

A friend of mine gave her 3-year old daughter advice for whenever she would meet someone new at our biennial staff conference in July of this year. After her daughter greeted me, Sarah said “Pheobe, do you have a question for Ms. Tabitha?” “Oh yes…. Ummm…. What’s one good thing that happened to you today?” Pheobe would reply. Sarah is teaching her young daughter to not live in fear of the unknown when it comes to relationships but to engage in conversation that leads to freedom over fear.

At Cru15, I witnessed God do something with the fear once in our leaders hearts that was passed on to the 5,000 staff in the room.

Steve Sellers and the national leadership team began to look around and truly SEE who was and who was NOT yet in the room and then they encouraged us to wrestle with the question “why”...Why were there so few ethnic minorities on staff with the ministries of Cru in the United States?

I believe this year's national staff conference was the visible beginning of change for Cru in the U.S. and may even impact Christian evangelicals in America for the next decade. For forty days before the conference, staffs were invited to fast and pray for the Lord's hand in and through Cru15. The staff at Cru15 engaged in difficult conversations, many of which helped bring up some underlying racism they didn't know existed. We did this so that we can move to expand in our diversity ethnically as staff in order to show God’s love in our unity to a dividing nation. We were also challenged to grow in our commitment to share the Good news, move forward in building partnerships with the body of Christ, and take the good news beyond our borders so that everyone may have the opportunity to know God personally.

NYC rejects Christian's freedoms!

I usually only post about ministry, but I'm outraged!
Did you hear what's happening  here in NYC? Feels like we're one more step away... Disappointed in NYC... We can be better! As of February 10th, New York City will kick out nearly 70 churches in the 5 boroughs who rent public schools to hold service! Didn't we come to this continent in search of freedom of religion?! To get away from people who tell us who and how we have to serve?! Seriously?! It's not like they are illegally sitting in these building or doing it for free! THEY ARE RENTING!

Okay, I'm going to go breathe and you can read Pastor Tim Keller's more calm and clear statement on the subject.

http://www.redeemer.com/news_and_events/newsletter/?aid=321

Ministry Tools

Did you hear about the earthquake on the east coast? 

Have you noticed it's been raining way more than typical for this time of year? 

Have you heard what's happening in Texas? 

Who's your favorite NFL/MLB team? 

Although there is nothing wrong with asking these questions in everyday conversations, have you ever wondered how to get into a deeper, more meaningful conversation with your neighbor, friend, peer or co-worker? Well here is an online video tool to help:

 
crupressgreen.com

.... offers evangelism tools and training for engaging people in meaningful conversations.

Colossians 4:5,6 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

What is CoJourners?
Click here to see a video about an evangelism tool called "CoJourners" which helps you enter into spiritual conversations with friends, family & peers who may not yet know Jesus.

1. Learn how to be a brighter light to those around you by becoming the "explorer", the "guide", the "builder", and the "mentor". 
2. Be aware of barriers that may inhibit this person in your life from hearing about Jesus.
3. Understand how to engage in conversation with each individual person and where that person is.
4. Do it.

There are 5 videos in this series. 

Attached is just the first one, but feel free to look through the website for the rest! Enjoy!

Reason for God

Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church gives a sermon series entitled "The Trouble With Christianity: Why it's so hard to believe" that addresses the skepticism of modern day Americans.

"I'm married and therefore, my right to make even small unilateral decisions is over forever!" - Keller

Pastor Keller does a good job of addressing the most difficult subjects of conversations with people who doubt God. This series will challenge your confidence as a Christian to share what you believe without fear of being tripped up by skeptics arguments. This series challenge those who call themselves "atheists" or those who doubt God's existence.

I dare you to listen.

"It's obvious the fish was designed for the water and when in the water, it experiences it's freedom." - Keller

Subjects:

Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion?

Suffering: If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world?

Absolutism: Don't we all have to find truth for ourselves?

Injustice: Hasn't Christianity been an instrument for oppression?

Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity an angry Judge?

Doubt: What should I do with my doubts?

Literalism: Isn't the Bible historically unreliable and regressive?

To download for free or listen, visit: http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=29

Race, Culture, & Religion

If you know me at all, you know that this blog posting is actually very well delayed.

Be real... How much of an issue is gender, race or culture when you address someone for the first time about religion?

Do we cater the Kingdom of God to those who most look like us unless we feel especially called to some people of a different culture?! Is that why I hear so many people say "I'm going to Africa on a missions trip" when Africa is a continent? Or is this why people say they are called to an urban environment (thinking poor, minorities) when most "urban environments" have a wide range of people with widely different economical statuses?

Do we have to feel called to a certain group of people if they are different from us before we can be a light to them?

Why don't more Christians start spiritual conversations with people who are different from them? Is it a matter of comfort? Ignorance? Sin?