Race and the Gospel: Is Justice a Part of the Discussion? Originally appeared in Outreach Magazine Good news, like light, touches everything in the room. Like light, it spreads, rolling forward, never-endingly chasing away the darkness. “Only he who cries for the Jews is permitted to sing Gregorian chant.”—Dietrich Bonhoeffer I recently saw an Instagram […]
Race and the Gospel: Is Justice Part of the Discussion? Read More »
Taken from Tamara’s favorite devotional, Bread For the Resistance, by our friend Donna Barber. Copyright (c) 2019 by Donna Marie Barber. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com Donna Barber is the co-founder of The Voices Project, an organization that influences culture through training and promoting leaders of color. She is also the director of Champions Academy,
Guest Post: Through Blindness and Graveclothes Read More »
The God of Justice “The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field.” Isaiah 32:16 The God of Disruptive Justice The balance of scripture shows us that the God of justice always moves in history and that this often comes with disruption. The Old Testament prophets spoke to, amidst,
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Has the thought of doing a daily devotional ever felt similar to the feeling you get when you think about doing your taxes: You know you should do them; you know you need to do them, but getting started leaves you feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed? And like taxes, you’re downright horrified by the
Guest Post by Tamara Wytsma Read More »
“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” Mother Teresa About a week ago, I saw the above image – Photoshopped from DaVinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper – of Jesus practicing social distancing while dining virtually with his disciples. I thought it was hilarious and made sure to share
The Loneliness of Jesus Read More »
Village Church is a multicultural community in Christ. Ethnically, we are one of the most diverse churches in Oregon, but our commitment to cultural diversity also extends across generations, from citizens to immigrants to refugees, and across multiple languages. We are not just multiethnic, but multicultural. This commitment is not something accidental or without purpose,
What does it mean to be a multicultural church in the context of COVID-19? Read More »
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had many moments of anxiety during this crisis period of pivoting and reacting. Yes, our church is trying hard to deliver online services and to connect directly with our people, but in all of the long hours and heightened sense of urgency, I’m left feeling we’re missing something.
Leader, it’s okay to put your oxygen mask on first Read More »
I love the staff I get to work with at Village. From Pastor Mauricio and his evangelistic heart to Kwang Kim and his enthusiasm for people and for the Lord; from JoAnna Flynn and her masterminding of how to disciple parents and children to John Jordan and his ability to turn seemingly everything into a
On Times of Suffering and Uncertainty Read More »
Sometimes you get lucky. I was in Melbourne for The Justice Conference Australia when I first heard that The Myth of Equality had made Publishers Weekly’s list for Best Books of 2017. It was one of 5 books listed in the Religion genre. I’ve always considered myself more of an “ideas guy” than a writer,
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017 Read More »
Not too long ago, I had an opportunity to talk with Leroy Barber (LB), co-founder of The VOICES Project, and Aaron Graham (AG), Lead Pastor of The District Church in Washington, D.C., about their ideas on leading an organization, church, or other group toward a deeper, shared understanding of race and reconciliation. I value both highly for their own commitments
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