WorldHope Corps

Ministry Partners :  Mzuzu Shalom Zone, Mzuzu United Methodist Church, and CitiHope International Hosts in Malawi :  Rev. Copeland Nkhata, Gabriel Wesley Msongole, Dennis Singini and Noel Kumwenda Team Leader: Dr. Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D., Director, Communities of Shalom, Drew University, and Founder of WorldHope Corps, Inc. Mission Team Members : Michael Christensen teaches practical theology at Drew University where he directs the Shalom Initiative for Prophetic Leadership and Community Development that provides training and support for an international network known as Communities of Shalom. In 2007, Dr. Christensen founded WorldHope Corps, primarily to mobilize volunteers-in-mission, but also to support charitable projects in Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Haiti, and the Chernobyl region.  This will be his seventh mission trip to Malawi since 2005.  He plans to post daily travel blogs about the mission trip on his blogsite at http://michael-christensen.blogspot.com     Ruth

... and 200 of his closest friends in Newark. In many ways it was a dream come true.  In other ways it was a reminder that he is not The One, but only One of many who point the way. The Peace Education Summit in Newark last weekend was three days of joy, compassion and wisdom; but lacking in practical strategies, beyond meditation and right action, to bring about lasting peace in the world.  I’m still betting on the Prince of Peace inspiring believers without borders to “seek the peace of the city where you have been sent” (Jeremiah 29:7), and “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8).  This through a practical strategy of S ystemic engagement with social structures of oppression, with a focus on H ealth, healing and wholeness for communities A sset-based community development L ove for God, self and neighbor   O rganizing for community action, through M ulticultural partnerships united for Peace Which how we spell SHALOM  see www.communitiesofshalom.org

Driving home from an interfaith speaking engagement this week, my cell phone flashed a text message from my administrative assistant: “If you want to have lunch with the Dalai Lama, you must call Chris ASAP.” Chris is the Project Administrator for the Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope in Peace—of which Communities of Shalom is a charter member.  We are  participating in the upcoming  Peace Education Summit   in Newark with the Dalai Lama, next weekend, May 13-15, at the NJPAC.   No way did I want to miss the opportunity to dine with the   Dalai Lama after his keynote address.  It was thrilling enough just be on the same program with His Holiness (as well as with Rabbi Michael Lerner, Deepak Chopra, Imam Deen Shareef and other interfaith leaders).  Our Coalition had been invited to offer two workshops at the  Peace Education Summit .   The one I am co-leading is PW 104   Interfaith Conjunctions: Buddha, Jeremiah, Jesus and Muhammad on InnerPeace/Shalom/Salaam   Doing a