Andy and Robin

As Director of Worship Development for theAM, Andy Piercy hosted the worship leaders’ retreat along with Robin Mark, an internationally known worship leader and songwriter from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Other presenters included the Rev. Chip Edgar, Rector of Church of the Apostles, Columbia, South Carolina; Michael Brymer, Worship Leader at St. Andrew’s, Little Rock, Arkansas; and Judy Piercy.

“We drew individuals from a broad spectrum of ages and worship styles,” Andy noted, “and I was especially encouraged to have a vibrant new set of 20-somethings join us.”

Chip Edgar shares on
interpreting liturgy for
our culture.

Each day of the retreat concentrated on a particular focus. Opening with a look at identity, Andy addressed the call to serve one’s congregation through worship. Michael followed up, outlining his personal experience of embracing worship within an Anglican context – “How I learned to speak Anglican.” Day two highlighted the freedom inherent within Anglican Christianity, with Andy offering insight into the “journey of worship,” Chip discussing how we can interpret liturgy in a modern setting and Robin describing the way our culture and heritage influence worship.

“We intentionally structured the three days to include teaching, processing time in small group discussions, fellowship, free time, worship and prayer,” Andy explains. “One of the best times was our entertainment night – it was just a fantastic time together – lots of real talent and crazy fun. Then on the last day, we experienced the power of worship and prayer together,” he added.

Feedback from the discussion groups

Heads down for quiz time concentration
during the annualworship retreat!

Two themes emerged during small group “results-based” conversations – the high value of developing a strong relationship and understanding between each worship leader and his or her senior pastor in order to better serve each congregation and to allow space for God to move through what we do within the rich tradition of the Anglican Church. According to Andy, the group sensed that “the bar had been raised” in their time together and recognized an opportunity within theAM to accomplish something significant as they continue on a journey and move forward in worship.

Each session built momentum and deepened a sense of community, belonging, trust, mutual respect and inspiration. On the final day, teaching centered on equipping and encouraging those present as Robin Mark urged leaders to keep their personal worship lives fresh, and Judy led the group in a time of “dynamic prayer and worship” followed by Communion.

“I have attended every worship Leader’s Retreat since its inception, and every year I leave renewed, inspired and encouraged to continue ‘running the race,’” shares one participant. “I meet and share my walk (good and bad) with others facing many of the same challenges. These retreats help me return to placing my trust and faith in God, keeping my eyes on Him. I go home to my church family, to love them and do what God has asked me to do: ‘Feed My sheep’.”

If you would like to be included on the Worship Leaders’ mailing list to receive general information as well as notification for upcoming events, contact Ronda Perry.

Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company has a rich relationship with the community of Bukonya that goes far beyond a cup of dark roast coffee. “We are building a bridge from our partner churches in the US to villages like Bukonya based on blessing their work and not charity,” explains Robert.

Last month, LOTH hosted their first official mission trip to the region. Employees and coffee ambassadors captured firsthand the spiritual and economic changes that growing coffee makes in the local people. The team picked “cherries” alongside coffee growers in the fields, helped to sort beans at the wash station and kicked the traditional first ball out onto the newly completed soccer field.

When people buy Rwandan coffee, whether a cup of joe served at their store in Roswell, Georgia, or in a church hallway, it is not just about profitability. Proceeds help provide a fair, sustainable wage for the African coffee growers and an opportunity for reconciliation and forgiveness.

Local banana farmers profit a few cents per pound, but coffee growers earn more for their specialty-grade Rwandan cherries. When farmers choose to grow coffee, life vastly improves, their children can attend school, families can afford insurance. Practical needs like clothing and food are no longer a struggle.

In the fields, lives are also radically changed. “Growing coffee is an incredible catalyst for this transformation,” explains Robert. “Communities in Rwanda are reconciling [as] genocide perpetrators work alongside family members of those they killed…forgiveness is taking place.” He also reports that the farmers are uplifted to know their own stories of reconciliation are making a difference as they are shared in America.

“It is simple to just write a check, but when you brew LOTH coffee, you are actually funding sustainability.”

Watch a video from the LOTH ambassador trip to Rwanda.

For more about Land of a Thousand Hills’ mission, future ambassador trips or your church partnering to brew Rwandan coffee contact Robert.

For fifteen years, a band of Cambridge Church faithful hurried through the halls of their borrowed space, arranging chairs into neat rows, laying wires, adjusting microphones and hauling tubs of Sunday School materials into classrooms. With the purchase of 16 acres two years ago, everyone’s hopes ran sky high for building a permanent space to call their church home.

Then the US recession hit; effectively plowing under their field of dreams.

The Cambridge congregation had raised 1.7 million dollars toward construction on permanent space on the acreage adjacent to Blue Valley Middle School. When the economic downturn hit, however, the bank changed their mind about loaning the remainder of the required funds.

“We were crushed and disappointed,” admits the Rev. Jay Fowler. “Our initial thinking was: ‘All we have is property with no building. It doesn’t seem like enough to do anything with.’”
Instead of waiting around, Cambridge leaders decided to transform the acreage into a park to serve the community. The new venture launched in June with a festival called Summer Breeze, featuring a band by the same name.

Alex Bonham-Carter/Sun Photo: Cambridge Church members Mike Kroeger, left, and Lee Saugstad prepare concrete to install disc golf baskets on church property at 163rd Terrace and Roe Avenue.

The new park includes a nine-hole disc golf course, soccer and football practice fields, a playground area, and a prayer garden. Determined to use the land God gave them to bless the community, Pastor Jay hammered some of the disc golf goals into the dry land himself.

Nearly 400 people enjoyed inflatables, concessions, face painting, juggling and free Frisbees at the festival.

“Our church is more about people than a building,” said Mark Kroeger, Cambridge Church member, “it is about the community that you build.”

Read this story in Sun Publications.

Building on 30-years of making and equipping disciples, Bishop Thad will seek to stir up vision, desire and passion for discipleship in the local church.

Bishop Murphy, Chairman of theAM, as well as the Board of Directors, enthusiastically endorse this new call. “As missionary bishops, we have unique flexibility and creativity in shaping and fulfilling our ministries,” Bishop Murphy explains. “Thad has my support for this innovative initiative which will utilize his gifts and passions to enhance our mission as he focuses on one of our core commitments – discipleship.”

Bishop Thad remains an active bishop serving on the Council of Bishops, but will no longer provide oversight for the Northeast Network. Instead, he will devote weekly time and monthly travels to clergy, churches and networks that seek to implement effective and fruitful discipleship work in their local settings.

“I look forward to focusing on the essential work of local discipleship, the maturing of saints ‘for the work of service’ (Eph 4:11-13),” says Bishop Thad. “Since June 2001, I have served as a bishop in the Anglican Mission, and my responsibilities left little time to come alongside [my wife] Erilynne in her work of discipleship. And, to be honest, this is my heart and passion. This new venture will allow me to fulfill my role as bishop in a new and creative way.”

The city of Hawthorne, California, is best known as home of the legendary Beach Boys. But on May 22, 2010, the music flowing from this Los Angeles suburb was a mixture of Anglican hymnody and African praise thanks to the voices of over 120 worshippers gathered at All Saints to celebrate the official opening of its recently acquired property. The celebration also featured the Installation of the Ven. Dr. Bennett C. Nworie, Rector of all Saints, as an Archdeacon in the Anglican Province of Rwanda.

Bishop Sandy Greene was joined by the Mayor Pro-Tem of Hawthorne in a brief ribbon cutting ceremony on the front sidewalk of the church. The cities of Hawthorne and Los Angeles also sent greetings to All Saints acknowledging this significant moment in the life of the Church.

“Only in our day of globalization can a man from Nigeria, living in the USA become an Archdeacon of Rwanda,” Bishop Sandy noted in his sermon. He also charged the congregation to be “persistent in praying for your neighbors, as the Holy Spirit will warm them to you and your ministry of service in their midst.”

The Rev. Dr. Helen Williams, Dean of the School of Education at Azusa Pacific University where Ben is a faculty member, passed along her support to hold him up in prayer as he has been “called, equipped and appointed for this work.”

Also present was the Rev. Dr. Mark Quay, Dean of the Anglican School for Ministry (ASM) in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Quay announced that Ben will open the Los Angeles branch of ASM, featuring a Foundations for Christian Ministry program designed to train Licensed Lay Ministers for work throughout the Anglican Mission.

Ben described the milestone event at All Saints as “a new beginning, a new dimension and new season of reaching out to this neighborhood and the broader communities of Los Angeles.”

“I am humbled about my call as Archdeacon,” Ben commented. “I feel like Isaiah being called by God, and I want to faithfully respond ‘here am I, send me.’”

The Major's ordination in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on May 25, marks a significant event for Peter and our Mission. The Anglican Mission has been approved by the Department of Defense as an endorsing agency for military chaplains. Previously, Anglican Mission chaplains were endorsed by the Reformed Episcopal Church.

CHAPLAIN, MAJOR PETER N. FISCHER

Chaplain, Major Peter N. Fischer is the Senior Protestant chaplain at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Cadet Chapel. He supervises three active duty chaplains and assigned Protestant IMA chaplains and chaplain candidates; develops implements, directs, and evaluates all ministries of the USAFA Cadet Chapel Protestant Program; directs the S.P.I.R.E. (Special Programs in Religious Education) program; and Serves as chaplain for the Dean of Faculty (DF).

Ch Fischer enlisted in the Army as a Chaplain Assistant (71M) in November 1983 and served as NCOIC of the Rose Barracks Chapel, Bad Kreuznach, Germany. In 1989 he joined the Tennessee Army National Guard where he served first as a Chaplain Assistant and later as a Chaplain Candidate. After completing his college and seminar training, he was commissioned as a chaplain in the US Army Reserves. He returned to active duty as an Army Chaplain in 1998 and served four years as an Airborne Battalion Chaplain (82d Airborne Division). In January 2002, he transferred to the Air Force where he has served as a chaplain at Scott AFB, a one-year AFIT program at George Mason University (Conflict Analysis and Resolution), and Staff Chaplain in the Plans and Programs Division of the Chief of Chaplains Office.

“Time is precious, and I am very selective on how I spend it,” declares AM clergy wife Val Eberhart. “The Chosen retreat did not waste my time. It was the most relevant and focused retreat I have ever attended.”

Chosen offers a time away for clergy wives to gain insight into their position as a partner with their husband for the Kingdom harvest. Teaching as well as fun opportunities to build relationships with other clergy wives are designed to bring a better understanding of their personal identity in Christ - all in a safe environment with those who share similar experiences and struggles.

“Our speaker, Acton Beard (LPC), has 25 years of experience and really understands the unique role of clergy wives,” shares Ellen Loomis, organizer and worship leader of Chosen for theAM. “If participants went away knowing only that we care about them, and more importantly, that God loves them, then we have had success.”

Plans are already underway to duplicate Chosen retreats in other networks across theAM.

Chosen recently launched a new blog. Check it out here.
Visit the Chosen website here.
Make a donation to the Chosen retreat on theAM's website.

African music, a traditional English tea, inspiring messages and a hockey jersey are a few highlights of a special assembly of theAM’s ACiC Network gathering in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC) convened May 21-23, 2010, to encourage and inform clergy and laity from several Canadian provinces.

Josh Wilton, co-planter of the Table in Victoria, emceed the opening night fund raising event, sharing his personal experiences as a church planter in the hard soil of Canada. Archbishop Yong Ping Chung greeted the crowd, and Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini shared a poignant message.

The worship team from Immanuel Church, Vancouver leads the Sunday night community service.

Churches representing the greater Vancouver area enjoyed a Saturday afternoon tea at a local church and dinner at the home of the Rev. Paul and Lois Carter. In true Canadian spirit, the group presented Archbishop Kolini with the gift of a Vancouver Canuk’s hockey jersey.

The weekend festivities ended with an evening worship service for both ACiC and Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) congregations.

ACiC members gather for the visit with Archbishop Kolini

“Archbishop Kolini’s theme for messages throughout the event was, ‘If we really love our cities, then we will take the Gospel to them’, explains HG Miller, Executive Director for theAM. “He noted that ‘Vancouver is such a beautiful city where the people seem to have everything, and yet many do not know Christ’.”

Diane, who is an iconographer, serves with her husband, the Rev. Ken Bieber, at Emmanuel Anglican Fellowship in Twinsburg, Ohio. Ken is the Rector of Emmanuel where Diane leads worship as well as creates banners and icons for their church and artwork for sale to the public.

Read the full article on Ohio.com here.
See Diane’s icon gallery.

“The Anglican Mission’s Relationship with the Anglican Church in North America”
May 18, 2010

For the past year Bishop Chuck Murphy and Archbishop Bob Duncan have been seeking to clarify the Anglican Mission’s structural relationship within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). This clarification, as required by our original protocol, is necessary as we approach the ACNA Provincial Council to be held June 8 – 9.

By way of background, the Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church in North America were drafted such that various groups might be integrated into the provincial structure of the ACNA as jurisdictions. In addition, the Canons made provision for another level of association designated as “Ministry Partners”. The Ministry Partner membership status as defined in the Constitution and Canons of the ACNA actually outlines very succinctly the appropriate relationship between the Anglican Mission and the ACNA as they seek to work together in church planting across North America. This status allows for entities such as ministry organizations, dioceses, seminaries and even monastic orders “to support each other in ministry to extend the Kingdom of God”, and the Anglican Mission is happy to join with other groups who have or seek this Ministry Partner status.

As a founding member of the ACNA, the Anglican Mission has invested significant time and energy into its formation and has been strongly supportive of the Province and Archbishop Duncan’s leadership. In light of this support, the Anglican Mission initially chose the jurisdictional option for membership in the ACNA while maintaining its identity as a missionary outreach of Rwanda. This “dual citizenship” approach, however, has resulted in significant confusion within the Anglican Mission and the ACNA regarding membership in two provinces, and more importantly, is inconsistent with the Constitution and Canons of the Province of the Anglican Church in Rwanda. Practically speaking, this jurisdictional/membership status became untenable and non-sustainable.

Given these circumstances, both the Anglican Mission’s Council of Bishops and the Rwanda House of Bishops has unanimously agreed that the Anglican Mission will apply for Ministry Partner status at next month’s ACNA Council meeting. This revised status, if approved in Boston, will allow the Anglican Mission to maintain a level of connection to the North American Province, even though the missionary movement will remain under the spiritual and canonical authority of Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini and the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. It also allows for the Anglican Mission to continue to function as a missionary movement committed to church planting as we have for the last decade. Finally, this decision will serve to overcome the inherent confusion that has arisen, and we view a transition to Ministry Partner status as a positive development for all concerned.

Archbishop Duncan is distributing a communiqué to his ordained and lay leadership even as we are now communicating to our members the reality of what this new status means for the Anglican Mission. The following points outline some of the specific clarifications regarding our structural relationship as a Ministry Partner of the ACNA:

1. The Anglican Mission’s identity as a missionary outreach of Rwanda remains unchanged and consistent, as it has been for 10 years.
2. The Anglican Mission remains committed to church planting as expressed through the life of the Anglican Mission since 2000 while supporting such efforts as the newly created Anglican 1000 initiative launched last year by the ACNA.
3. Over the years, Anglican Mission congregations have worked from time to time with a variety of other local congregations and Christian ministries, engaging in collaborative Kingdom work. Such efforts will continue in the future as our churches and leaders work with a broad spectrum of those passionate about evangelism and church planting, including but not limited to the ACNA congregations.
4. Anglican Mission churches have always had the freedom to transfer to another jurisdiction or to become an independent congregation. While a small number of churches have made this decision in our history, the vast majority of our congregations express a strong and passionate commitment to our mission and ministry as a missionary outreach of Rwanda, and we encourage them to remain part of this missionary movement as they continue to share our vision.
5. While the Canons of the Province of Rwanda allow for the Anglican Mission to transfer to another jurisdiction, we remain fully committed to our overseeing Province and to serving Rwanda in North America for the foreseeable future, a position unanimously supported by our Council of Bishops through a resolution during a retreat in Denver on May 11-13, 2010.

The Anglican Mission Council of Bishops during their
Spring Retreat in Denver May 11-13, 2010.

Finally, Anglican Mission leadership is looking forward to our potential new status as a Ministry Partner.

__________________________

Background Information:

Title 1, Canon 7 [Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church in North America]
Of Ministry Partners

Section 1 - Concerning Partnership
Ministry Partners and the Church work together, supporting each other in ministry to extend the Kingdom of God.

Section 2 - Concerning Admittance
An entity such as a seminary, monastic order or ministry organization, or a Diocese, congregation or other entity that is not a member of the Church, may apply in writing to the Council to become associated with the Church as a Ministry Partner. A Ministry Partner may belong to another denomination of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, or be independent, so long as it subscribes without reservation to the Fundamental Declarations of the Church stated in Article I of the Constitution. The Council may admit such applicant to Ministry Partner status upon terms deemed appropriate.

Section 3 - Concerning Fellowship
Ministry Partners may have representatives attend functions or gatherings of the Church upon invitation of the Archbishop, and may attend functions and gatherings of any constituent jurisdiction of the Church upon the invitation of the Bishop with jurisdiction. Representatives of Ministry Partners may have seat and voice as determined by the Archbishop or Bishop with jurisdiction. Ministry Partners may withdraw from affiliation or have their affiliation ended with or without cause.

The RAA is an interfaith association of 100 professional campus ministers representing 41 churches, synagogues and organizations that serve the students, faculty and staff at MSU. They serve in cooperation with the Vice President for Student Affairs to operate official campus ministries.

CAPTION:
Lumanog teaching from John 17 at the University Christian Outreach where several students operated in the prophetic, and two young men received a call to preach the Gospel as vocational ministers.

• Recent College Graduates...
• Eager to learn and grow...
• Ready to benefit from an excellent year of service, community, learning, formation, marketplace internship and discernment with respect to calling.

Visit our website for more information.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Ps. 33:12)

Almighty God, we praise you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of life; but above all, for your immeasurable love in redemption, by your Light that has come into the world.

We await that promised day when there will be no more death or misery, injustice or oppression. Until then, guide our nation in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake, and forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Direct and prosper the work of this body, that they may ordain for our governance only those things as will please you and further the welfare of all people.

Bestow upon every person here, in both their public and private lives, your amazing grace, that they might abound in every good work.

To you be all praise and honor, glory and power, now and forever. AMEN.

Please donate to the Nashville Church of the Redeemer (AMiA) Flood Relief Fund. Every dollar given to the Flood Relief Fund will go to help people in our congregation. Please write your check to Church of the Redeemer and write “Flood Relief” in the Memo line. Then send the check to us at 920 Caldwell Lane, Nashville, TN, 37204

For more information on our flood relief work, see Redeemer website.

__________________________

Here is a link to our church blog for more information about our flood relief efforts (There are several posts on this from the last week)

Here is our church website.

Here is more information on the Nashville flooding (including photos).

Tennessean

Grace Spriggs Blog

Photo

Archbishop Kolini, President Kagame and Bishop Mbanda

CORRECTION:An all-Africa news article has erroneously reported that Bishop-elect Louis Muvunyi (right) has been elected to succeed Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini (left) as Primate of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. Bishop-elect Muvunyi will be consecrated this summer and assume his position as Bishop of the Kigali Diocese upon Archbishop Kolini's retirement, but there has NOT been an election for the position of archbishop.

On March 27, 2010, the Rev. Louis Muvunyi was elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Kigali Diocese. He currently serves as the Director and founder of Alpha School for Children in Kigali.

On the same day, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Laurent Mbanda was consecrated as Bishop Coadjutor of Shyira Diocese and will become Diocesan Bishop following the retirement of Bishop John Rucyahana, who has served the Diocese since 1997. Speaking at the consecration service, Rwandan President Paul Kagame noted: "All leaders, be it in government or church, should have a sense of responsibility and accountability to those they are responsible for."

On March 27, 2010, the Rev. Louis Muvunyi was elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Kigali Diocese and will be consecrated this summer. He currently serves as the Director and founder of Alpha School for Children in Kigali.

On the same day, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Laurent Mbanda was consecrated as Bishop Coadjutor of Shyira Diocese and will become Diocesan Bishop following the retirement of Bishop John Rucyahana, who has served the Diocese since 1997. Speaking at the consecration service, Rwandan President Paul Kagame noted: "All leaders, be it in government or church, should have a sense of responsibility and accountability to those they are responsible for."

Kagame Challenges Clergy on Leadership

Edmund Kagire and Bonnie Mukombozi

Kigali — Presidnt Paul Kagame has challenged religious leaders to put the interests of their flock before their own, if they are to live up to the biblical character of the 'good shepherd'.

President Kagame gave the advice yesterday while officiating at the consecration ceremony of Rev. Dr Laurent Mbanda, as a Coadjutor Bishop of Shyira Diocese replacing the retiring Bishop John Rucyahana, who has been at the helm of the Diocese since 1997.

Addressing thousands of the faithful, who braved the rain at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Musanze Town, President Kagame said that all leaders, be it in government or church, should have a sense of responsibility and accountability to those they are responsible for. The president emphasised the need to be result oriented.

Kagame urged the church leaders not to be like a shepherd who abandons his flock and instead seeks self satisfaction. At the end of the day, he said, the shepherd will reap the benefits at the expense of the flock.

He referred to the outgoing Bishop Ruchyahana as a leader, who during his reign, did not only fulfil his duties at the diocese but also served the whole country. He said that the country will continue seeking his services, adding that he personally has been seeking his advice from time to time and will continue to do so.

On the other hand, Kagame advised the incoming Bishop to consolidate what his predecessor has put in place and to come up with more initiatives to improve the lives of his followers, while contributing to the economy.

The Governor of the Northern Province, Aimé Bosenibamwe, hailed Bishop Ruchyahana for having greatly contributed to the development and well being of the people of the Northern Province.
He highlighted some of Ruchyahana's development initiatives in the education sector, construction and hotel industry, social welfare as well as unity and reconciliation.

In his remarks, Bishop Rucyahana said that the prevailing peace in the country, support and cooperation he received from the Government enabled him accomplish the tasks bestowed on him during his service in the ministry.

Rt. Rev. Laurent Mbanda who was awarded a Certificate of Episcopal Consecration rallied the Christians to support him in accomplishing and fostering the established developments, and the outreach missions which have been started"It is a big honour to serve God, I am going to fill big shoes but by God's grace we will get there," Bishop Laurent Mbanda said after taking oath.

The Episcopal Consecration of Rev. Dr Mbanda, as the Bishop-elect, of Shyira Diocese was conducted by the Archbishop of the Province of Anglican Church of Rwanda, Rt. Rev Emmanuel Kolini, assisted by other provincial bishops.

Anglican Bishops from the neighbouring countries; Burundi, D R Congo, and Uganda also attended the ceremony.

Freshly updated copies of theAM's informational brochure are now available from theAM Resource Center in Pawley's Island, South Carolina.

Email Patti Angulo to request copies.

Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee (LOTL) is launching the 100 Days, 100 Ways campaign in honor of those who died - and in the hope of encouraging the world to focus on the GOOD that God is doing in Rwanda: the redemption, hope, forgiveness and reconciliation that is occurring each day.

For the next 100 Days, LOTL is providing 100 Ways for you to educate yourself, impact the people of Rwanda and be in community with others.

Get started now. Join the campaign:
Follow on Twitter: 1000hillscoffee
Join the discussion on this Facebook fan page!
Email Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee
Visit: www.DrinkCoffeeDoGood.com
1-866-875-4369

Visit Recommended Reading for more information.

Giving Church Another Chance: Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices

The Rt. Rev. Todd Hunter

Anglican Mission Bishop Todd Hunter investigates nine church practices-attendance, prelude, doxology, scripture reading, sermons, liturgy, offering, communion, benediction-as a launching pad to life.

Trust in an Age of Arrogance

The Rt. Rev. C. Fitzsimons Allison

Lovers of the writings of Bishop Fitz, as he is affectionately known, will not be disappointed in his newest volume, Trust in an Age of Arrogance. In this book, he explores the serious consequences of replacing Christianity with secularism and the dangers of self-righteousness when it comes to the Christian life and our salvation.

Founded in the 1940’s as London Bible College, LST is a world-renowned leader in evangelical higher education where intellectual thoroughness and rigor go hand in hand with a passion to see students grow personally and spiritually. ASM was established in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2007 as a parish-based program of theological training for lay and ordained leaders in the Anglican Mission. ASM’s certificates and diplomas are approved by the Mission for training candidates for ordination. Currently there are 85 active students at ASM, spread from California to North Carolina.

Holders of an accredited bachelor’s degree together with one of ASM’s diplomas may be admitted into this highly regarded MA program. Under certain circumstances mature students without a bachelor’s degree may be admitted into this program as well. Supervision for the MA will be provided by ASM’s highly qualified faculty where possible.

For more information about this unique educational opportunity, go to Anglican School of Ministry or email Dr. Quay or call (501) 801-3410.

I have been asked by the Bishop of Haiti to assist him in the rebuilding efforts in Haiti – focusing on the mission and ministry of the Anglican Church in Haiti. I have known him and worked with him for over 20 years. Personally, his house was destroyed and his wife seriously injured. She has a broken leg and has had two surgeries to date.

His highest priority in this effort is to re-establish the education structure throughout the areas affected by the earthquake. In Haiti, schools provide not only intellectual opportunities, but they are also a delivery structure for faith, food, medicine and the basic social services that we might expect municipalities to offer. In Haiti, there are only two or three schools (all located in Port-au-Prince and all destroyed or damaged) that offer a high school education that would allow a graduate to go on to university studies both inside and outside Haiti. One of those is an Episcopal High School called College St. Pierre (1600 students). It was totally destroyed and still has over 300 students entombed in its rubble. The Bishop’s heart, as a first priority, is to re-build this school which all the other schools feed into (Anglican and otherwise, both those currently functioning and those destroyed). The country simply cannot put on hold for years to come the education of its brightest and best.

Building in Haiti after the earthquake.

I have felt called by God to step up to this leadership challenge, and I am attempting to put a team in place to work with me in developing a strategy to accomplish this work. So I am on the front end of this work, and I am trusting God for the leadership team to tackle this opportunity. I believe that this project has the potential not only to re-build a high school, but also to bring hope and encouragement to a next generation of leaders for a country that lacks Godly leadership at every level of its national life. Bishop TJ Johnston

Living Bricks is a project that equips repentant ex-genocide prisoners with the tools to build critically needed housing for their victim’s families, resulting in communities where former enemies live as neighbors through reconciliation. Operated by a partnership with Prison Fellowship International, the cost of each home is $5,000 with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to the village.

Joining the campaign are musician Sara Groves, author Gabe Lyons, journalist Mark Moring, author and pastor Mark Batterson, journalist and author Amy Sullivan and filmmaker and author Craig Deitweiler. Each week, read a blog post from these contributors with their reflections on forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption at http://www.AsWeForgiveMovie.com/

To read more about theAM’s ongoing response to Haiti, read Bishop Johnston’s blog here.

Read this recent letter from Bishop Johnston and watch for the full story about long term projects in our upcoming March edition of the Wave.

Donate funds for Haiti Earthquake Relief through theAM, here.

Haiti people struggling to survive after devastating earthquake.

For the past day and a half I have worked the phones, reconnected with friends, searched for friends, and networked relief supplies. The news has been amazingly bad. Much of what I would call the familiar landmarks of my past twenty-year connection with Haiti are gone. Many of the projects that I have given time, energy, and resources to are gone. Not all my friends and ministry partners are accounted for.

It helps me when I remember that one of the greatest Old Testament prophets, Ezekiel, sat stunned and overwhelmed for seven days when faced with the desperate plight of the children of Israel (Ez 3:15). Grief is real and it is healthy. Jesus exhorts us to mourn with those who mourn.

But we are also to be people of hope – even in the face of death. So Jesus also exhorts us walk with, encourage, and meet the needs of those in pain, brokenness and distress. Because of my long-standing relationship with Haiti, I know that will mean very practical opportunities in the days ahead for us at St. Peter’s walking with and working with Haitians.

Bishop TJ

Please continue in prayer for Haiti that out of this destruction a new day would actually come upon a country and a people who have had and certainly have today – very little to hope for.

My hope for Haiti (and for my own life) is in God alone. I claim this morning for Haiti, God’s promise through Ezekiel to give the children of Israel a new heart and a new spirit and a hope and future that will be good (Ez 11:17-20). —TJ