WorldHope Corps

Jeremiah Wright is right…on many things: On the need for racial understanding and reconciliation: "In the past, we were taught to see others who are different as being deficient. We establish arbitrary norm and then determine that anybody not like us was abnormal. But a change is coming because we no longer see others who are different as being deficient. We just see them as different." About the insight that because different individuals and cultures may have differing perspectives based on their experience, it does not follow that one viewpoint is wrong or deficient in truth. “Different does not mean deficient!” --NAACP's Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner in Detroit, April 27, 2008 On how he meant "God condemns America" in his sermon in which he said "God damn America": "When you start confusing God and government, your allegiances to government, a particular government and not to God, that you're in serious trouble because governments...

Dallas/Fort Worth: I’m here for a week promoting Communities of Shalom at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. It's Sunday, and I wanted to attend the Potter’s House to hear Bishop Jakes preach, but heard that Dr. Jeremiah Wright III was in town to preach at Friendship-West Baptist Church, so my colleagues and I decided to attend the 8am service rather than the 11am which no doubt would be more crowed. The occasion was the 25th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration for Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, Senior Pastor. I guess the reason Wright agreed to preach at Friendship-West Baptist was because Haynes is one of his spiritual children. This was billed by the media as Wright’s first public service since his retreat from political scene after he made international news during Holy Week for his controversial remarks as Barak Obama’s pastor. Wright preached this morning to over 6k on Jesus healing the "messed up man" at the pool of Bethesda (and how Jesus ca...

Ashton Depot, Forth Worth: As the new National Director, I’m delighted to provide leadership to the Communities of Shalom initiative of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, now in its 15th year. I feel called and drawn to shalom ministry for at least three reasons: 1. I love the original idea of “shalom zones” emerging from the social unrest in LA in 1992. To identify just four square blocks, or one square mile, or one particular neighborhood…and work together toward shalom with all who live in the area, is a compelling vision. It’s about transforming the world one community at a time . 2. I’m challenged by the radical nature and prophetic spirit of shalom. Bishop Felton May’s shalom ministry in D.C., organizing tent revivals for social justice, and recovery from addiction through personal transformation and community development, is right on the mark. The Shalom movement is radical, edgy, prophetic and unavoidably political in how it goes about spiritual and soc...

Fort Worth, Texas I arrived here yesterday to attend the General Conference of the UMC. Tonight, we held our Communities of Shalom reception at the Ashton Depot--the refurbished train station in downtown Fort Worth. Hosted by Dean Maxine Beach, over 130 guests attended the event and enjoyed the program that included social justice music by Mark Miller and the Drew Choir,and remarks by Bishop Felton May, Bishop John Schol, Sally Vonner and myself. Here's the news item posted by United Methodist Communication (UMCOM)today: Shalom initiative returns to General Conference--where it all began By Barbara Wheeler* FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS) — The United Methodist Communities of Shalom initiative returned to General Conference, where it was born in 1992 as a ministry of community reconciliation and development. Shalom leaders came not asking for funds but to demonstrate the achievement of the community-development program that provides training in how congregations and communities can wo...

One year ago in March I met with 20 village chiefs in a remote catchment called Kamphenda. They represented 20 villages that did not have their own fresh water well and had come to a simple classroom in one of the villages to discuss their need. (see blog post on Samaritan Wells May 28, 2007) One year later, the first two wells are now operational, installed in March by CitiHope International; and arrangements have been made for two more wells to be installed this month, thanks to generous sponsors in Chatham, New Jersey. Here is Dennis' report on the first two wells in this region: A BRIEF REPORT ON THE DEEP WELLS (BOREHOLES) IN KAMPHENDA Date of Visit: APRIL 3, 2008 Report Compiled by: Dennis Singini, Operations Coordinator Gabriel Msongole, Country Representative, CitiHope International Introduction: Sanitary, potable water has become a reality for the people of Kamphenda, Sinjiliheni and Chisungula Villages. Through CitiHope International funding and management, these ...