by Rod White, Circle of Hope, Philadelphia, PA John R. Mott died on January 31, 1955 after a long life of proclamation, pioneering, and peacemaking. He is one of the members of the church we don’t want to forget. Influential ancestors are inspiring if one remembers “comparisons are odious.” We have a great congregation of […]
Author Archives: Harriet
Being Present with People
by Krista Dutt I have often heard the life of Job upheld as an example. However, my experience as an immigration court watcher has allowed me to enter into the perspective of Job’s friends. These friends heard that Job’s life was in a hard place and so they went to sit with him (Job 2:11-13). […]
A Threefold Reality
by Ken Abell My brother could use a little mercy now He’s a stranger to freedom, he’s shackled to his fear and his doubt The pain that he lives in is almost more than living will allow I love my brother, he could use some mercy now . . .”(Mary Gauthier) As someone who went through […]
When Hope Fades
by Bonner Davis The email was an unusual prayer request from the beginning, lacking the typical details seen on the prayer chain; not unlike those vague posts one sees on Facebook from friends, #prayforme. This one was different though. It had enough info to raise questions. The email read, “Pray for the Burnham’s[1]who just lost […]
The Church, Race, and Reconciliation
by Julie Weatherford In January 2019, a dozen or so of us from two Brethren in Christ churches (Crest Community and Madison Street Church, both of Riverside, California) participated in a gathering of about 150 people of a beautiful variety of races and ethnicities, called “Workshop 1.0: Church, Race and Reconciliation.” The workshop is offered […]
Just Jesus
by Joshua Nolt I think the best way for me to describe my understanding of a third way church is through a story. I had been preaching on two-kingdom theology throughout the 2016 election season, trying to help our congregation understand what it means to follow Jesus and live in and for his kingdom in the […]
Crying Into the Darkness
by Dee Martin “I know exactly where you are from! I used to travel down there all the time to pick up business,” exclaimed Karen (not her real name). “It’s a real hub for prostitution.” A church board member and I had met Karen while on break during an all-day seminar focused on domestic sex […]
From Anger to Hope
by Tim Diehl I woke up one morning not long ago to a Washington Post article about sexual abuse and misuse of power in a large Christian denomination (the denomination I grew up in). According to the article, a woman reported that while pursuing a degree at one of the denominational seminaries, she was raped by a […]
Tug of War
by Ryan Skove What does it look when churches in a city that are all at different points on the theological, social, and political spectrums come together at city hall in support of affordable housing for our homeless neighbors? It can be described by one word: powerful. This is what occurred on March 13, 2018 […]
What Do We Do With Sutherland Springs?
by Gary Mitchell and Brent Bever Love your enemies, yes. However, when churches are physically attacked, what should our response be? What if the violence of Sutherland Springs, Texas comes to our door? Sometimes it feels like this country is determined to find yet another difficult issue that divides us. Can we agree on anything? Do […]