WorldHope Corps

Dr. Christensen and Rev. Nkhata 'break ground" for new Hope House in 2011 Greetings to you!  I hope God is keeping you safely during this holy week of Christmas. These photos show how much progress we have made in constructing the HOPE SCHOLARSHIP HOUSE to make our dream sustainable in empowering many souls that God has placed in our care.    The ring beam is next and then the roofing in January.  The house should be ready for occupancy in just a few more months. What began in 2007 as a charitable educational project of Mzuzu United Methodist Church and WorldHope Corps to support selected youth who otherwise could not attend secondary school, will now become a self-supporting, sustainable, on-going scholarship program for boys and girls motivated to complete their education.   By building a beautiful, 4-bedroom family house in a new development area of Mzuzu that will generate monthly rental income, we will be able to support selected recipients throu...

SARS Community Development project Dear Brothers and Sisters in America: I send you greetings in the name of our lord Jesus Christ and I hope God is keeping you safe during this holy week of Christmas. I have viewed the good articles, comments, and the photos on this blog which clearly describe SARS and the work we do in Uganda.  We are so happy to be part of the WorldHope Corps family. God makes miracles in different ways, and meeting people with compassion like you is beyond my imagination. I have attached more photos of the ministry of SARS: God bless you. Br Julius Water Source before irrigation/sanitation development

Members of SARS with Fr. Paul and Br. Julius We raised the roof of the St. George Hope Health Center in 2009.  Now lets equip the buildings, ensure clean water and sanitation, and empower young women for self-reliance.  During the first ten days of June last summer I had the rich of experience of meeting  Br. Julius Kasaija with the Sustainable Action for Rural Sector (SARS)--a Shalom-style community development work near Hoima, Uganda.  WorldHope Corps had been supporting SARS and their partner ministry, St George Hope Health Center, for three years now. Retired Judge Tom Dilts at Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church had introduced me to Julius and his brother, Fr. Paul Bigirwa, and their wonderful work in Western Uganda, but until June we  had not met in person.  Julius attended our ShalomZone Training in Uganda in June, and we became fast friends. St George Hope Health Centre ready for equipment We've tried to raise a little money each year for...

Dear Friends and Partners, Despite many economic hardships around the world in 2011, it was a hope-filled year for thousands of children, women and families in Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia and Haiti—thanks to you!  Together we raised so far this year a total of $108,485  to sustain the Hope programs in Malawi and support relief and development projects in Uganda, Ethiopia, Haiti and Belarus. On behalf of all these children, women and families, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your generous contributions to WorldHope Corps. Specifically this year, we continued to provide food and clothing for 100 vulnerable orphans through the Hope Homes program in Malawi.  We also provided educational scholarships for 16 additional youth who otherwise could not complete High School though Hope Scholarships, and graduated the third class of 12 young seamstresses in Hope Tailoring School, so that they can become self-sufficient and contribute to their loc...

An usually large, warm, Full Moon was visible and clear in the sky today over Madison, NJ. According to earthsky.org   " the big and bright  waning gibbous moon  shines directly in front of the constellation Gemini the Twins, the radiant point for the Geminid meteor shower (going on tonight).  Gemini’s two brightest stars are  Castor  and  Pollux . They shine quite close to the moon tonight."  I looked up and down, all around, and inside and out, and though I did not see the Twins of Gemini, suddenly I knew what Time it was. Time to go home to San Diego for the holidays (on Friday). Time to leave Occupy Wall Street behind for awhile and focus on other things. TIME TO OCCUPY CHRISTMAS with family and friends. "There is a time to every purpose under heaven..." (Ecc. 3) There's a time to cook and clean and mend. And there's a time for crying with a friend. Look around, do you see what time it is? Put down your pots and pans awhile. ...

While returning to Newark on a 6am flight from Tulsa, the pilot woke up the passengers to alert us to an an astronomical sight not to be missed. I looked out the window and sure enough, the Moon over Tulsa was full and bright and larger than life, with no clouds obscuring the view.  The softer lunar light directly opposed the more radiant light of the Sun which was just starting to rise. In this strange twilight, I beheld that final phase of the lunar eclipse after the moon had turned red at its midpoint. Since I teach apocalyptic eschatology at Drew (where I discuss biblical texts where the “moon turns to blood”), I could not help but wonder what this  astronomical/astrological sign may  mean at such a time as this? Perhaps this natural phenomenon, like all solar and lunar eclipses, at least in retrospect, portents or points to important human events of crisis and opportunity, or sometimes to the need for relief and re-balancing—as the ancients believed.   But for ...

Rev. Jesse Jackson Joins United Methodist Leaders at Occupy Service What do Drew, Jesse Jackson and Newt Gingrich have in common? Here are two video clips from Drew Today , the university’s online news channel, illustrating the political spectrum of faculty, students and alumni:  ( http://drew.edu/today )   Prayers and Protest Social justice is integral to the mission of the Theological School and its Shalom initiative, so it wasn't so out of the ordinary that they led last Sunday’s worship service at Occupy Wall Street in New York City, led by Drew's Communities of Shalom. The surprise came when Rev. Jesse Jackson joined them. Video Journalist Ted Johnsen has the story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCauwTMKUSU&feature=youtube_gdata Alumnus Propels Gingrich toward White House With only a few weeks to go before the presidential primaries, Newt Gingrich is emerging as the GOP frontrunner. We thought that was a good reason to reprise ...

Jesse Jackson support Obery Hendricks speaking at OSW Dr. Obery Hendricks, Professor of New Testament Intepretation at New York Theological Semianry, Scholar in Residence at Columbia University, and author of The Politics of Jesus, attended the Occupy Advent service with Jesse Jackson and was invited to speak. “ Treat the people’s needs as holy...” is one of seven strategies Jesus used to “ give a voice to the voiceless” and “expose the workings of oppression” —to challenge the established order of things. Hendricks is Professor of Biblical Interpretation at New York Theological Seminary and author of the book The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus’ Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted . The 7 Political Strategies of Jesus are these: Treat people needs as holy. Give a voice to the voiceless. Expose the working of oppression. Call the demon by name. Save your anger for the mistreatment of others. Take blows without ret...

Friends of Shalom:   I want to share with you three shalom stories  that were posted this week on Drew's Homepage:   http://www.drew.edu/ Feature on Drew Shalom intern, Gaius Charles , on how he balances his acting career and seminary studies. $85,000 grant  received last month from Jessie Ball duPont Fund  for ShalomZone Training enhancements. Jessie Jackson Joins us at OWS   video clip     I posted more news coverage, video clips, content, and reflection on our Occupy Advent service last week.   http://michael-christensen.blogspot.com/search/label/shalom%20zone There is growing interest in the Shalom network about about how we can create shalom zones in connection to OWS. Taking a break from Occupy for Christmas, but will be in touch as things develop in the New Year.

Occupy Advent 'congregation' at Zuccotti Park United Methodist Bishops, clergy, members, Ministers of Shalom, Drew faculty and students, and other people of strong faith and good will..."Occupied Church" on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 4, 2011. Occupy Advent article Here are some of the video clips and news stories about OccupyFaith weekly services at Zuccotti Park and United Methodist support of the Occupy Movement for separation of Corporations and State, exposure of systemic greed, and proclamation that a new world is possible--Shalom for All. Watch 2 minute video: Jesse Jackson Joins Communities of Shalom to Occupy Wall Street Watch longer   video   of Bishop Jeremiah Park and Bishop J preaching at Occupy Wall Street, Sunday December 4. News article:  Occupy Advent, Occupy Shalom News article:  Church of the Village Occupies Wall Street News article  United Methodists Who Support Occupy Movement News article:  More United M...

Minister Annie Allen, Program Associate and Coordinator of Training for Communities of Shalom at Drew, asked the Occupy Wall Street protest crowd to hold hands and pray this prayer together:  There is Power in Prayer Let us hold hands, touch  somebody Let us Pray all Together Holy, Gracious, Loving God You want Justice for your people We want Justice for your people Holy God you act though your children We are your Children Rain your spirit into this place Lord Rain your spirit into our souls Your Spirit is blowing – Hallelujah! Lord, we need your justice and your peace. Please Raise the Lowly and bring down the mighty As you love us – Let us love one another As you provide for us – let us provide for one another We pray for all who are suffering We ask for your patience, wisdom and strength Help us create your kingdom on earth Thank you God, for loving us Thank you God, for being with us And the Church says… Amen. Amen. Amen! ...

Bishop Alfred Johnson, Ret. Bishop of Greater New Jersey Annual Conference and currently Senior Pastor of Church of the Village Church in lower Manhattan, offered these bold and prophetic words  at the Occupy Advent Service at Zuccotti Park: "...This Sunday's lectionary ushering us into the Advent season, featured  the fiery and inspired "John the Baptist."  Taking editorial liberties and  paraphrasing a bit to embody our occasion here, the Gospel of Luke(3)  boldly testifies: "right in the middle of a matrix of mighty military and  conspiring religious institutional power, the interrupting Word of God  "Occupied" John the Baptist, who "occupied" the wilderness with words that  "occupied" and even overflowed into the public and political economy of that  day, and declared, a change is gonna come! God's change of Justice and  fairness for all." Even with this, John was clear, that water was not enough to baptize the ...

Bishop Jeremiah Park, Resident Bishop, New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, offered these prophetic words with great passion on Sunday, December 4, at the Occupy Advent church service with the OccupyWall Street congregation: Long ago, the prophet Jeremiah heard God speaking: “ For I know the plans I have for you,”…. “ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(Jeremiah 29:11) God’s plan for us is clear: hope and a future. Our hearts are broken to know that God’s plan is denied to so many people. God’s heart is broken when any one is denied hope and a future. What is missing in our society is hope. The absence of hope has moved so many people around the globe to occupy their public centers following the example of our own Occupy Wall Street. Something is seriously wrong in America when the land of the greatest opportunity cannot inspire hope among its citizens, particularly the young! Something is seriously wrong i...

Rev. Dr. Tanya Linn Bennett The following "Advent sermon" was offered by the Rev. Dr. Tanya Linn Bennett, University Chaplain, Drew  University, on Sunday at the Occupy Wall Street church service: In the Christian tradition This is the season of Advent The time of year when Christians Wait for the Messiah, Jesus, to come Despite our fairy tale images, Jesus was no meek and mild child Jesus came to turn the world around To bring justice and freedom to those oppressed To make the rich lowly, and to raise up the poor. In one story in the Bible, Jesus enters the temple in Jerusalem Where the moneylenders and merchants Had set up shop And he calls them cheaters and liars Robbers of the poor Exploiters of the vulnerable And he turns over the tables One of the first occupiers-- Jesus occupied Jerusalem In this season of waiting Let us turn over the tables Bringing low the rich And raising up the poor Bringing justice, freedom and a powerful, holy love To those who need it mos...