Category: Engage People (Page 15 of 15)

Engage People of All Cultures and Ethnicities

Photo Credit: Nic McPhee via Compfight cc

Never called to be alone

August 20, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

God calls us to work on campuses and only a growing and connected community can see the mission move forward.

This year as a region we are prayerfully working toward 450 small groups in our four states and every campus we are present at (48+) engaged in intercession.

In addition to the multi-focus small groups, students and staff are planting small groups in focused communities like: Fraternities & Sororities, athletes, Asian American, Latino, Black, international, and refugees.

Is there one of these groups that you have a particular desire to see reached? Is their a Midwest campus (MO, IA, NE, KS) that you are connected to? Or students you know? Do you have an idea of how to link with us in intercession?

What might your part of that connected community be as we prayerfully work together this year?

http://2100.intervarsity.org/collection/bible-study

Sparking a cross-cultural walk

August 7, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

As we progress as a region in helping our students and staff plant witnessing communities cross-culturally one of the questions we are asking is – how do we create an atmosphere where this vision and calling is held and then led by our students?

For the three students I worked with last year it started with a love for the nations and experience in traveling to see God’s Kingdom spread abroad. How did this vision/action spark for you?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/72815849@N00/2140114076/

Pulled in by the headline

August 6, 2015 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

“So you flunked a racism test. Now what?”
You know when a headline grabs you? This one did. I’m convinced that we all are impacted by implicit bias in regards to race and wish we would just admit it. In theological terms this is called total depravity. Sin impacts every part of us. This article can help people admit that.

However I’m unsettled because in reading this I can treat bias in a way that is as casual as, “Oh I grabbed the wrong pair of socks”. This is not ok as we see the way implicit bias oppresses so deeply and leads to death not life for others and us.

The article also leaves the reader with a gap as the authors admit we do not know how to fix this with science. Yep, the only one I’ve seen with a solution is Jesus. Have you seen the stories of him giving access for those who were shut out in the house of worship (John 2) or deliberately bringing the good news of the kingdom to a hated people (John 4)? It is he that it is said breaks down the dividing wall (Ephesians 2) and it is only in saying yes to him that I’ve seen any breakthrough.