Freedom and Dignity Legacy

The world celebrates the life of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, and modern icon of human dignity and freedom.  I want to suggest that his life truly merits our reflection especially in light of the larger biblical story from which we, as Jesus followers, derive our identity and by which we orient our …

On Security and Mission

I am writing from inside a secure compound in Eket where the Rev.  P. S. lives when she is in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, which is located in the south central region of Nigeria and is a city central to the established Free Methodist Church in the country.  We have armed security police stationed …

It’s a Slum … That’s why!

Our Kenyan friend, en route to the Church in Kagwangware, explained, “This place is a slum, not like Kibera (Kenya’s world-famous slum) but still a slum; that’s why you see these churches!” My mind did a quick rewind and replay several times in the next while.  I would never have expected this comment as part …

More Imaginative Prayers for Egypt

Two and a half years ago, on the front edge of the so-called Arab Spring, the nation of Egypt convulsed as protestors engaged in mass demonstrations and the government responded with force and curfews.  Eventually the government collapsed, the protestors celebrated their freedom, and the hard, risky work of writing a constitution, reforming a government, …

Why No Time For Silence

A week ago, after George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murdering Trayvon Martin, my friend Patrick McNeal and I insisted that it was “no time for silence,” that the church should “talk about” what happened.  We meant more than to comment or share our opinion of the trial.  We meant that the verdict, and …