global community, global kin. . . one voice united

“The lack of a caring community that incarnates the Word makes us more and more incapable of being heard.”
- Melba Maggay Filipino theologian

There is strength in numbers. The louder the protest about injustice, the more likely it will be heard. The louder the protest about issues of mercy . . .the more people who care others through actions, thoughts and words, the more likely others will take notice.

Save Darfur: Al-Bashir Genocide, War Crimes Charges Underscore Need for Security Council ActionFowler: ‘The world at-large, primarily the Security Council, has allowed al-Bashir to continue his reign of destruction, recalcitrance and violence with utter impunity. Moreno-Ocampo has…Read more

We need to keep up this momentum and push this issue to the forefront of politics and global communities.

What do you know abut Darfur? What are you doing about it?

The most powerful tool in your arsenal is your voice. Tell others. Encourage them to add their voice to the community of those who vehemently oppose the genocide in Darfur. Pray to God, let God hear your cries for those with no voices.

Love Christ. Be Christ’s hands, feet, and voice and love your neighbors on earth (regardless of location). Raise your voice high. Stop this insanity.

(Care + Community) + (Notice + Action)= Resolution & Justice

Here are some places to get involved NOW. Today. The next place you click.

Save Darfur: http://www.savedarfur.org/content
Genocide Intervention Network: www.genocideintervention.net
Waging Peace: www.wagingpeace.info
International Crisis Group – Darfur: www.genocideintervention.net
STAND: Student Anti-Genocide Coalition:www.standnow.org

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Why are you still here? What are you waiting for?

Time to get up to speed

change

Most of us can remember times or places when significant changes happen in our lives. Perhaps these events are graduation, marriage, the birth of a baby, a baptism or confirmation, the death of someone we hold dear. All these are significant events with traditions, ceremonies and acknowledgement that things are changing. Often I’ve noticed this is not often the case in spiritual or discipleship growth, at least not for me. These changes seem more subtle, often persistent until I yield and turn to another direction or another pathway. Such is the case now as I transition to something different.

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1: 17

This change began on a mission trip to Houston almost 2 years ago. A small but mighty contingent of FirstLighters (Pastors Steven and Ben, 4 young women and myself) went to serve through the CSM (Center for Student Mission) for a week. This was my first week-long endeavor into Mission and I was nervous. This was unknown territory to the urban core and I had no idea what it would be like or how I should act, but something (God) told me I HAD to go. And so after a few weeks of hemming and hawing, I raised my hand to become an adult leader on the trip.

God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the “gods”: “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalms 82:1-4

It was mind-blowing, wholly educational and way, way different than I imagined. It honestly changed my life. You see, I can trace back the decision I made to go to Houston as the starting point for where I believe God wants me to go now.

For the past 6 months I’ve considered moving my service from Worship to the Glocal Missions area of FirstLight with Carol Zimmerman and the rest of the team. This has been influence by books I’ve read, activities I’ve participated in and even what others have said to me. Most importantly, through prayer/talking with and listening to God, this decision has been mulled over and over. Rest assured, this decision has not been made on impulse.

There is, as it should be, always a need for more leadership in Missions. Indeed, I also have a growing passion in this area that can benefit God’s Kingdom, to rally around those who are poor, oppressed and ignored on the fringes of society and world. I really feel that God wants me to serve here.

I will be transitioning at the end of March. You may still see me helping with setup or tear down or singing with the band as continued service in FirstLight ministries, but Ambiance and related duties will be taken over by Jamie Norris and others within the Worship Team. I have learned so much from these 3 years on the Worship team and I will miss it. Yet, I feel that God is calling me to do this. And what I’ve discovered is that gentle persistent voice of change is very hard to ignore.

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. 3 Isaiah 10:1-3

In Christ we all serve,
Deana

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have too much…it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” – Franklin Delano Roosevelt