Be Hope To Her 2010
I wanted to let you know about something that a good friend of mine has been working with for several years. The organization is called Nuru International. Nuru is the Kiswhahili word for “light,” and Kiswahili is the language of the Kuria people of Kenya. My friend, Billy Williams, has devoted himself to this very interesting and innovative organization that is committed to pioneering holistic and sustainable solutions to end extreme poverty in partnership with the poor. As the national grassroots director, he has the opportunity to see the hope of Nuru spread. This year, Virginia Tech is hosting a “Be hope to her” fundraiser. I guarantee it isn’t like any you have been to before, so if you are in the area, please consider coming out and very much becoming a hope to her. Billy, take it away!
Last year, Nuru International hosted its first nationwide extreme poverty awareness event and campaign. It was an experiential event designed to raise awareness and empathy for the daily routine of hundreds of women and girls in the developing world. We called it “Be Hope To Her.” The event had nearly 1000 people participate on 11 college campuses, and raised over $36,000 that led to the drilling of four deep water wells in Kuria, Kenya and thousands of changed lives.
This year, we are pleased to announce that there are twenty four colleges who are participating in the event (including one in Florence, Italy). We also have three city-wide events happening in SoCal, Seattle, and Pittsburgh.
So what is it all about? In essence, it’s an event about being hope. Over 2.4 billion people go daily without nearby access to safe, clean, drinking water. Women and girls in these communities are usually charged with the task of gathering the water for their families as a daily practice. Imagine spending three hours of your day gathering water so you and your family can have it to drink, to bathe, to do laundry, to wash dishes. Imagine if that water were contaminated and needed boiled before anyone could drink it. Imagine not being able to attend school because you had been charged with this task for the sake of your family’s survival. It doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, you can be part of the generation that stands up and says enough is enough, and chooses to make a difference.
Recently, I was reading a blog from our water and sanitation program manager, Nicole Scott, that talked about how life
has changed in Kuria since the drilling of wells in the community. One of the stories told was about kids at one of the schools where the wells were drilled. The teachers said that the kids are playing now instead of running into the bush to try to find water during recess. This statement really hit me personally. I started thinking back to elementary school and recess. I can remember running, playing football, tag, and kickball, and just all around having a good time with friends. I remember running myself into a frenzy knowing that at the end of recess, everyone in my class would line up at a water fountain (I think the fountain was in my classroom too), and get a drink of water before settling back into class. What would it have been like if there were no drinking fountains in my school. What if my recess was spent looking for ANY water source near the school? What would my concentration level have been like in the classroom? It seems utterly unthinkable that anyone in the modern era would have to deal with this on a daily basis. (more…)
Like most that live around Virginia Tech, the anniversary of the shootings can seem to hang over my head. But now there is something else.
Westboro Baptist Church is coming into town. The delightful gang that started the godhatesfags website and has recently been picketting funerals of everyone from soldiers who have been killed in action, to those of children that have been killed by cars. At all of them the theme is the same, “God hates you and what you are doing. You (or someone else) caused this.”
Seems their schedule is flexible enough to fit us in. Wonderful. Here is their itenerary while they are in the area.
So now, those of us in leadership of just about any group are asking ourselves the question, what do we do to respond to what they do? I have heard great ideas that range from simply being somewhere else and not giving them any audience, to some that are suggesting we aggressively protest them.
The question I have is, what is a thoughtful Christ-like response to thoughtless rantings? At [nlcf], we are kicking around a number of ideas right now. In the next few days we will list out what we are suggesting. I am sure we will also want to be as involved as possible in the local and university’s response to all this is going to be.
So, what do you think we should do? What would you suggest? Why would you suggest it?
~~ I have just removed the hotlink to the WBC site at the suggestion of a web-savvy-internet-guru friend named Liz! She felt it was best to not make it easier/enticing for people to go to the site and essentially help their numbers stay high.
A friend from Va. Tech responded to my post last night. He shared a personal experience that I think speaks to the challenge of this issue. He spoke so well, I think the wisest thing I can do is just let him say it… So, Peter?
Jim, I really think you should find some more controversial topics to cover on this blog. You’ve really been playing it safe here.
I’m also torn on this topic, Jim. We went through a time of not having enough money to handle health care costs for our family even though we both have college degrees and I was teaching full time (being a teacher was pretty much the main reason we couldn’t afford it!) so I have a little personal experience on “the other side of things.” Most of the people who are making the decisions and the people that are most upset about it have never had to make the decision whether or not to visit the doctor or get the medicine because of money or insurance coverage. Not everyone that struggles financially and has inadequate health care is a lazy bum taking advantage of welfare and government services. On a teacher’s salary in NC, our family qualified for medicaid services for our kids! I know the government is not the answer to all of our woes, but I think that many people screaming for no health care reform are a bit out of touch with reality in some ways.
I don’t have a solid opinion, but I fall somewhere in the middle wanting a balance of government intervention combined with accountability combined with private charitable help combined with good old-fashioned get out there and work to provide for your family. I guess that means I would be a lousy politician since I want a little slice of everything.
But seriously, Jim, let’s hit some serious topics soon…like puppies vs. kittens. Hope you’re enjoying the snow!
The experience of Tracy and I our first five-ish years of marriage was very similar. I had a college degree and was working with a church, and for at least a few of those years, was WELL under the poverty line. Please know that my wife and I are hard workers and responsible, I even did a stint as medical test subject for extra money, that is dedication eh? That is where we were.
I don’t believe it is the government’s responsibility to step in because the job I felt God was leading my into wasn’t supplying enough income. But I do still very much feel for those that are in the position that I no longer am in.
What are your thoughts on this?
I am torn when it comes to the health care debate. This report about a prominent and wealthy Canadian politician not utilizing Canada’s health care system and instead coming to the US for heart surgery, tears me more.
Now, I have friends that say that they are confused just so they don’t have to take a side. You know who you are.
This isn’t that. I really feel torn.
As a follower of Jesus and someone that believes in the guidance and illumination provided by the scriptures, I go to them to help me understand both the events that are occurring in our world today, and how I can increasingly reflect the heart and intent of Christ.
There is a sentence in the letter that James wrote to a large number of Christians that had been spread out, primarily through the persecution they had been receiving. They had received this persecution because they were followers of Jesus and they would have had a large number among them that would have needed help. People would have needed housing, food, and shelter. The basics. James wrote his letter in a very clear, very challenging manner to a group that need both clarity and challenge.
Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us. James 1.27
“We must care for orphans and widows in their troubles…” That isn’t the only way that we demonstrate our trust in the way of Christ, but it is an important one. God seems to care a great deal for those who are disadvantaged in our world.
When I line those words up against the reality that we have a lot of people that don’t seem to have adequate health care, I can
start to see the value of expanding the health care system to accommodate as many of those people as we can. Even if it is at a personal cost to me, I am willing to look at that.
There are also numerous, equally valid, scriptures in the book of Proverbs that would state that it is foolish to walk into a dangerous situation as if it were not so. Seeing that Danny Williams, who would have the ability to truly assess his options, would opt to leave for care is disturbing. Knowing that he chose to do so in spite of the outcry it would cause makes it even more so.
What am I missing in this?
(title and first line edited from earlier version)
I have a friend who is same sex attracted.
The friend I am talking about would technically be considered a non-practicing male homosexual. He would also describe himself as someone who struggles with his same sex attraction.
And today we will speak for himself. I asked him if he would answer a few questions and he has done so. I am sure he will take your questions as well…
So… my friend…
What’s the most difficult part of dealing with homosexuality, and how does being a leader in a church make that worse?
I can only speak for my experience, although I’ve heard many homosexual Christian men say the same thing, that loneliness is the most difficult part of this. The unmet longing for companionship and intimacy. Some days that longing is literally an aching in my chest, like someone is squeezing my heart. Imagine watching all your friends grow up, graduate from school, marry their sweetheart–you know, progress through life normally–while you stay stuck in singleness, not because you’ve chosen it, but because you’re attracted to the same sex, and acting on that would violate your faith. It’s awful. Leadership in the church brings its own loneliness. People look at you like you’ve got your act together, like you’re just a little bit, if not a lot, closer to God than everyone else. They set you apart–alone–in the their minds. And since the church hardly understands homosexuality or how to address the people affected by it, there is a strong temptation to just hide, to be alone with your thoughts and not let anyone know what’s going on in you.
You’ve talked about feeling alone. Do you ever feel angry? What makes you angry?
Great news! The audiobook version of Matt Rogers‘ When Answers Aren’t Enough is here. You can download it from iTunes or Audible.com. Just search for Matt Rogers at either online store and you’ll find it.
Please help spread the word, too. Could you blog about it? Post a link on your Facebook wall? Mention it in your Facebook status? Tweet about it if you’re on Twitter? If you know someone who prefers hearing books to reading them and who might find solace in what Matt has written, could you point them to the audiobook? You can even give the book to someone through iTunes. Look for the “Gift This Audiobook” link.
Thanks for helping get out the word!
I just read a blog entry by my friend JR Briggs, who helps guide Renew Community in Lansdale PA. His post reminded me that I have been asked similar questions. So… without further ado… Why [nlcf] is a part of the Ecclesia Network.
1. The way the network has developed. What is now the Ecclesia Network started out essentially with a number of friends getting together once or twice a year to wax theologic and philosophic. We talked about what was working, what wasn’t, what excited and frustrated us. A few in that initial group were also struggling a bit, feeling somewhat out of place in the groups they were presently a part of, and others were completely on their own. Even though a lot of work has been put into this thing, primarily from Chris Backert and JR Woodward, it has developed quite organically. That has been a very reassuring part.
2. The people that are already in it. I try to convince my wife that when I go to an Ecclesia
gathering, be it a general meeting, a regional, or national gathering, that I am going to work. And she is unconvinced. I think she thinks I am having too much fun to really be working. And I do have fun. These guys have become some very close friends who I greatly respect and trust. We might be sitting on rocks in the woods smoking cigars, a cigar bar in downtown DC, or at the ONE sports bar in Sheperdstown WV that allows you to smoke cigars (catching the theme?). Other times we sit around conference room tables… anywhere really. I trust and respect many of these people so deeply that I just want to be connected with them.
3. We are living out common values often in different ways. I really love the commonality and differences in a pretty small group of churches. We are linked in our desires to truly live out the mission of God by building life on life faith communities that see the Good News of Jesus as something that should be seen and experienced as Good News. That we are called to enter into the lives of those we are around, not just those we are like. But, in that still small group, we do it differently. We try to connect to the vibes of the cultures we are in, be that inner-city life, suburban life, university town life, or something much more rural. We embrace different expressions of tradition and innovation and that allows us to learn so much from each other. Hey, some of our members don’t even blog or tweet! How’s that for differences?
4. We see the planting of churches or faith communities as central to accomplishing God’s call on our lives to see the Kingdom grow and expand. And we don’t think that is the only way it can happen. ‘Nuff said.
5. No rock stars. I like rock stars. At least I think I would if I knew any. Who knows? My point is that there isn’t anyone in particular that this group is built around. Now, here me correctly, I respect and value a number of highly impactful and influential leaders, both in the US and abroad, greatly. I also can see the results of their faith and integrity. I really do. I just also like that there is no one opinion or process that guides Ecclesia.
6. We are a more like a relational network, or hub, than a denomination. Ecclesia isn’t looking to set policy in your church or ministry. We are simply wanting to make you aware of resources that could assist what you are doing, be that people that are doing similar things, learning opportunities that you might not otherwise interact with, or processes that you think could be helpful.
7. We need Ecclesia. It isn’t good for [nlcf] to be out completely on its own. We need accountability, challenge, support, and input. We need the larger body of Christ watching what we do and helping us to see things we might miss. And we need to be able to do that for others. We are called to walk in submission to others and to allow God to use us to speak into others as well. Ecclesia provides a wonderful place for us to do just that.
I wish I wasn’t going to be in Charlotte NC on November 13 and 14. If I weren’t, I would be at 4903 Fountain Ave, in Hollywood. JR Woodward and The Ecclesia Network are bringing a free and innovative group of leaders, activists and thinkers all sharing their hard-won insight on thinking and living missionally. Personally having been a friend of JR’s, I can tell you that he is always thinking of how his life and the lives of those around him can truly be awakened to join God in the renewal of all things. If you don’t know him, it will take you all of about 10 seconds to see how vibrant and interesting his life personally is, and it simply makes you want to follow Christ all the more. Go ahead, time yourself here.
They will be handling any number of these topics over the 24 hour period…
Scripture and Mission
Emotional Health and Mission
Social Justice and Mission
Economics and Mission
Discipleship and Mission
Creation Care and Mission
Conversion and Mission
Neighborhood and Mission
Leadership and Mission
Politics and Mission
Evangelism and Mission
Incarnation and Mission
Prophetic Ministry and Mission
Worship and Mission
You won’t want to miss this. It is free, but you have rsvp to their facebook page to make their lives and planning a bit easier. Yes, I know that you are so “in the moment that you don’t want to quench the Spirit of God by making plans too far in advance.” Don’t be that guy… Let ‘em know you are coming.
Please continue to spread the word about this. This 24 hour time is being tagged as “where the next BIG idea meets the unconference”, let’s keep the viral promotion up. Just think, it could be just like Snakes on a Plane.
Just without Samuel Jackson.
And most of the profanity.
Peace, Jim
Still?
Check out this article
from Mary Foster…
In 1957, Paul Tillich’s Dynamics of Faith made the case to a post-World War II generation that “doubt” was a critical component of every authentic expression of faith. Fifty years later, Jim Pace makes the same kind of case in the context of the shootings at Virginia Tech. Like Jim, this book is unflinchingly courageous in asking hard questions, compassionately pastoral in tone, and achingly honest in revealing his own “skin in the game.” What a marvelous book!
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