My Hopes (one week away!)
One week until I embark on this amazing adventure! I am getting so excited! I wanted to provide some more information about the program - specifically, our assignments and composition of small groups. I also reflected a bit on my hopes for this experience. At the end, I have included the link and lyrics to the theme song of the CWME (Conference for World Mission and Evangelism)
Letter-Writing
As part of the requirement of the GETI program, we are asked to complete eight pre-assignments - using one of four tracks: letter-writing, creative writing, visual and bodily expression, and academic writing. I have chosen to use the letter-writing track - my letters will be written to American youth and young adults (millennials) who are resisting the North American church.. I think this will be a good platform to share some of the good news happening in the non-western movement of Christianity, to provide hope for the place the protestant church finds itself here in the US (declining in its traditional expression). The four areas of study are Ecumenism and Mission, Mission and Evangelism, World Christianity, and African Diaspora Theology. I will share these letters along the way, as we participate in study sessions throughout the conference.
Small Group
Also throughout the conference, I will be meeting with a small group. My group is comprised of ten participants - Lutherans from Brazil, Norway, Finland/Japan, Hong Kong; Baptist from Jamaica, a Presbyterian (me!) and a Mennonite from the United States; Reformed from Switzerland, Cameroon; and an Orthodox Oriental from Lebanon. We also have two group leaders, a minister of the Presbyterian church in New Zealand/Theology Professor in Fiji; and a PhD student from the Lutheran church in Brazil. How rich it will be to process and learn with these brothers and sisters in Christ!
Letter-Writing
As part of the requirement of the GETI program, we are asked to complete eight pre-assignments - using one of four tracks: letter-writing, creative writing, visual and bodily expression, and academic writing. I have chosen to use the letter-writing track - my letters will be written to American youth and young adults (millennials) who are resisting the North American church.. I think this will be a good platform to share some of the good news happening in the non-western movement of Christianity, to provide hope for the place the protestant church finds itself here in the US (declining in its traditional expression). The four areas of study are Ecumenism and Mission, Mission and Evangelism, World Christianity, and African Diaspora Theology. I will share these letters along the way, as we participate in study sessions throughout the conference.
Small Group
Also throughout the conference, I will be meeting with a small group. My group is comprised of ten participants - Lutherans from Brazil, Norway, Finland/Japan, Hong Kong; Baptist from Jamaica, a Presbyterian (me!) and a Mennonite from the United States; Reformed from Switzerland, Cameroon; and an Orthodox Oriental from Lebanon. We also have two group leaders, a minister of the Presbyterian church in New Zealand/Theology Professor in Fiji; and a PhD student from the Lutheran church in Brazil. How rich it will be to process and learn with these brothers and sisters in Christ!
Hopes
I hope to contribute to GETI by bringing my eagerness to
learn and grow. I have always had a heart for mission and service, and am
excited for the opportunity to witness the work of God’s kingdom throughout the
world. I greatly enjoy discussing theology and learning from others’
experiences of God’s love and grace. I hope to be challenged by wrestling with
theological issues of justice and peace that face brothers and sisters around
the world, that don’t show up in my rural Midwestern American context. It is
too easy to put blinders on to the injustices around the world, but I proclaim
that no one is outside of God’s reach; therefore, as a minister of the gospel,
I believe it is part of my calling to understand and proclaim the good news of
Jesus Christ to all, as it speaks into their contexts. To do that, I first need
to listen to others’ stories and experiences. I think that global dialogues
around justice could greatly inform issues that we are currently facing in the
United States, and I hope to be a leader of justice in my local contexts and
denominations.
CWME Theme Song
Spirit of God, come to us now, O, come this very moment, Spirit of God, come to us now, O, come this very moment. We are in need of your grace, Lord, grace of the Spirit. We are in need our your grace, Lord, grace of the Spirit.
We are in need of your life, Lord, life of the Spirit
Help us to live out our faith, Lord, faith of the Spirit
Help us to trust in your work, Lord, work of the Spirit
We want to move in your will, Lord, move in your Spirit.
Comments
Post a Comment