Some friends of mine have an awesome vision of incarnating Christ into the neighbourhoods of Toronto. They’ve been researching hard and have identified 25 of the poorest and most unreached patches in the city, and are asking for people to literally move-in, and be the church in these neighborhoods.
They are holding their first conference May 8th-9th to cast the vision and are praying for 2,000 people to participate.
Pray, join, invite others, and find out more more at http://movein.to/
by Lon on December 20, 2008
by Lon on September 8, 2008
I bet you’ve caught yourself singing to Katy Perry’s catchy tune “I kissed a girl”, at least once this summer.
Some people are already debating the social implications of the song, especially when ten year old girls are singing along to the lyrics.
Conservatives are outraged saying that it promotes a homosexual lifestyle.
Some in the gay community aren’t too impressed by it either, as they feel she’s inappropriately using the gay identiy just to stir controversy. Plus she oddly counters “I kissed a girl” with her song “Ur so gay” which has been labeled as homophobic.
And what’s even more interesting… Katy Perry use to be known at Katy Hudson, who’s first CD was a christian gospel album, and she’s the daughter of two conservative evangelical pastors. Surprising?
by Lon on September 7, 2008
If you’ve been following Barack Obamamania, you may have seen Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s latest speech. I think he’s quite the communicator and offers some profound insights, but I can’t say I quite agree with a lot of what he says, or the arrogance he sometimes projects.
What caught my attention was his discourse on Black liberation theology. Wright’s passion, and the narrative behind it is quite powerful. Which of course makes me wonder if there is any type of corresponding Asian theology that we can speak of with such pride???
The Chinese immigrant church has been booming in Toronto that past decade. I’ve had ‘white’ pastors tell me a number of times how enamored they are with the life they find in the growing Chinese church. They also ask when the Chinese church will start reaching back out to the rest of culture.
All the while, I know many 2nd generation Chinese Jesus-followers are a bit embarrassed by the mostly ‘ethnic’ church that they’re a part of. They’d love to reach out to others, but can’t get passed the initial ethnic barriers. Is there a story in the Chinese or Asian context with which we can uniquely proclaim as the Black church does?
I know there must be one, my seminary even offers courses specifically on Chinese theology and spirituality. I can’t say I’ve heard much in my time in Chinese church circles though.
I do know that when great oppression meets the liberating Gospel of Christ, revivals are often stoked. This of course is a huge part of the narrative in the black church. It’s also an integral part of the church in China that is exploding, which everyone seems to be raving about these days.
As for Chinese or Asian Christians in the west, I can’t say I hear a unifying story being shouted from the rooftops.
I’m sure part of it is due to a cultural inferiority complex along with some model minority issues, but someone please educate me on this one before I make something up… is there a uniquely Asian theology we should be cherishing? Or is there really a need for one?
