Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Tuesday evening, work began by the members of the newly-formed Community Coalition on Suicide Prevention and Awareness.

The organization was created, in light of the rising number of suicides in Pettis County, to address the issue of suicide prevention and to bring about an awareness of the existing services already available to offer help to individuals and family members.

There are a lot of people and groups who are already doing a number of things to address the issues of suicide and mental health here in Pettis County, said Chris Guffey, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church and co-chair of the organization. We are not here to criticize any group or individual or to lay blame; there is not a singular institution that bears the blame, instead what our focus is is to see a better community for tomorrow.

Its as Pastor Jim (Downing of First United Methodist Church and co-chair of the committee) said when we were talking earlier, We cant be knights in shining armor and we cant solve all the worlds problems, Guffey added. but if we can clearly communicate to the community that there are things that already exist to provide help and support then we have succeeded.

Comprised of some 30 community leaders, three students and 10 parents, those in attendance Tuesday laid the groundwork for the committees operation.

The Coalition will operate in four stages:

Stage 1: Formation and structure.

Stage 2: Defining scope of coalition work and distribution of duties.

Stage 3: Community cooperation. This is the awareness stage. There will be an intentional effort by the coalition to raise awareness to the problem of suicide, present a report on coalition work, and organize community efforts to combat this increasing problem.

Stage 4: Sustainability of coalition. This stage will examine the future of coalition and its needs moving forward.

Members also discussed how to approach the tasks needed to complete a report for the community.

One goal is to not have everyone try to do everything, Guffey explained. We outlined four sub-groups, each with a specific task that we think will benefit our work.

Of course we will consider everyones input but Im asking you to think about where does your passion lie, Guffey said. Hopefully at our next meeting we can divide into our groups and begin working on our goals.

The first group is Evaluation.

This groups work is dedicated to understanding the key issues surrounding suicide with considerations given to national and state information provided through the Department of Health, Guffey said. However, special considerations should be given to local challenges through student and adult focus groups, Missouri Department of Health Student Survey, communication with local health organizations, collaboration with faith communities, and any further entity or organization which offers pertinent local information.

Education is the second group. This groups work is dedicated to communication with the community for the distribution of information, Guffey said. Further, this group will focus on discovery of local available resources.

Group three, or Prevention, will focus on recommendations to local institutions government, health care, faith, and education for prevention of future suicides, Guffey said. This is a compilation group which offers resources to all local institutions, based upon the work of groups one and two. Finally, this group will offer recommendations for future community engagement.

The fourth group is Post-Suicide Assistance.

The focus of their work will be on providing resources to Sedalia institutions for after-suicide care to let family members and loved ones know what resources are available to help those who are left behind.

Throughout the meeting, several in attendance shared a similar view that there is a lack of awareness on everyones part throughout the community of what already exists to help in the prevention of suicide and the resources available to those who have suffered a loss to suicide.

We have to help the community come together as one, said Amanda Eisenbarth, founder of Memory Lane Foundation. Thats where it all needs to start.

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Sedalia Democrat | Community Coalition on Suicide Prevention and ... - Sedalia Democrat

SIOUX FALLS (AP) South Dakota State University president Barry Dunn says he can see a future in which reservation hospitals and health centers across South Dakota employ pharmacists and lab scientists educated at his school, with doctors and administrators also trained at institutions in the state.

The land-grant university is pursuing a new initiative to increase the number of students at the school from the nine tribal nations in South Dakota, Dunn said Friday. The Wokini Initiative, bearing a Lakota word that means "new life" or "a new beginning," is a top priority for Dunn, a Rosebud Sioux tribe member who took over as president about a year ago.

He said the goal of the initiative, which is in its early stages, is to dramatically improve educational opportunities for American Indian students from South Dakota. Dunn said the school aims to recruit high school students and tribal college graduates and provide financial assistance to help them attend South Dakota State University in Brookings.

The university had about 250 American Indian students enrolled in fall 2016, a number Dunn would like to see climb to 1,000 or higher. It would be wonderful if the enrollment of American Indian students at South Dakota State reflected the state's population, he said.

"This is an intentional, very intentional effort to reach a population that has been underserved by public higher education in a state that has a long and dramatic and many times tragic history of relationships with American Indians," Dunn said. "It's morally and ethically the right thing to do."

Dunn said the initiative will offer tailored advising and counseling to help make sure that American Indian students who are recruited are successful. Part of the initiative calls for the construction of a stand-alone American Indian student center, which he said would serve as a "home away from home."

Other aspects could include a push to preserve the Dakota and Lakota languages and the funding of collaborative research projects with tribes or tribal colleges on topics important to American Indian communities. A report to the Board of Regents says Wokini Initiative programs will be developed by university staff in collaboration with the tribes, their members and the four tribal colleges serving South Dakota.

The university plans to dedicate revenue from land-grant properties roughly $600,000 each year to the initiative to give it a sustainable funding source. Officials will also seek gifts and grants for the project, though no specific funding goal exists yet, Dunn said.

"Wokini will provide that stability and long-term commitment that won't go away as leadership changes," he said. "My goal is to institutionalize this effort so that it's just part of who South Dakota State is in perpetuity."

The school hopes to hire a director to focus on the project within the next month, and Dunn expects activity to pick up significantly in the fall. He said students could be recruited for the 2018 school year.

Alaina Hanks, a member of the White Earth Chippewa of Minnesota, is pursuing a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling at South Dakota State. She said the American Indian Student Center has lacked money in the past and that the new initiative is a "clear step forward."

"I think that putting resources into something that you care about is so different than just saying you care about something," she said.

Democratic Sen. Troy Heinert, a Rosebud Sioux member, said that greater access to higher education for tribal members across the state is "how we're going to change the communities from within." When younger tribal members see their relatives and other American Indians in professional positions, it makes that goal seem more attainable, Heinert said.

Dunn said he's pursuing the initiative in honor of his mother, who was born into poverty on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in 1921, before American Indians were U.S. citizens. She eventually earned a degree from Iowa State University, which gave her success and Dunn a middle-class upbringing.

"I want the benefits that my mother received to flow to all of those young people that have a similar story," Dunn said.

Read the rest here:

Initiative to recruit American Indian students - Brookings Register

Watauga County Republican Womens Club Holds Monthly Meeting on Wed., May 31

TheWataugaCounty Republican Womens Club (WCRWC)will have its next monthly meeting onWednesday, May 31st at the Sagebrush Steakhouse in Boone, NC. The meeting will begin at noon. All interested in furthering the Republican cause in The High Country are welcome to attend andare invited to join. Call828-295-9020for more information. TheWCRWCmeets the lastWednesday of each month.

Tuesday, 5/16/17-Cheap Date Night. A pizza, two salads and two beers for $25. The movie is free!

Wednesday, 5/17/17- Trivia at 7pm.

Thursday, 5/18/17-$3 Thirsty Thursday and College Night featuring Open Mic Night hosted by Mike Preslar.

Friday, 5/19/17-Live Music: Woodie and the String Pullers at 7:30pm.

Saturday, 5/20/17-Live Music: Folk and Dagger at 7:30pm at 7:30pm.

Tuesday, 5/23/17-Shine and Dine. A moonshine and food pairing dinner featuring moonshine from Copper Barrel Distillery.

Wednesday, 5/24/17-Trivia at 7pm.

Thursday, 5/25/17-$3 Thirsty Thursday and College Night featuring Live Music.

Friday, 5/26/17-Live Music: Cane Mill Road at 7:30pm.

Saturday, 5/27/17-Live Music: Dane Page at 7:30pm.

Bishop Paul Leeland, resident bishop of the Western NC Conference, has announced the appointment of Rev. Ben Floyd to the joint positions of pastor of Blackburns Chapel United Methodist Church (BCUMC), a missional campus of Boone United Methodist Church, and Executive Director of Blackburn Community Outreach (BCO).

Rev. Floyd comes to Todd from his current home in Canton, GA where he has lived with his wife, Amy and two children (Grace, age 9 and Sam, age 6) while pursuing an M. Div. degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He anticipates graduation in May of 2017. Ben has an appreciation for rural Appalachian culture from his experience serving in downtown Asheville and at a small church in rural North Georgia.

Ben was drawn to Blackburns by the intentional community, Blackburn House, a program of Blackburn Community Outreach housed in the old BCUMC parsonage since 2012. He has a special love of relationships and collaborative style in small churches and in the communities they serve. To Ben, the community is the church. He also has an interest in recovery ministry. Ben sees Blackburns Chapel and BCO as being part of an emerging trend smaller communities of faith connected to larger churches being one of the ways churches will grow in the twenty-first century.

Rev. Floyd will begin his appointment at Blackburns Chapel and BCO on July 1st. We also express our gratitude to Rev. Brandon Wrencher, the outgoing Pastor of Blackburns Chapel and Director of Blackburn Community Outreach. Rev. Wrencher ably and enthusiastically led the fledgling organization, Blackburn House, from its infancy into the more developed Blackburn Community Outreach, a non-profit organization under Boone United Methodist Church.

Pastor Wrencher with his wife, Erica and their two sons, Phillip and Mo, have offered an experience of generosity, warmth, brilliance, talent and tolerance. Pastor Wrencher has led Blackburns Chapel and Blackburn Community Outreach to develop mission, vision, goals and administrative structures that have fostered community engagement, grant funding from the Duke Endowment, the addition of staff, and growth in service to the community. As the Wrenchers move to their new appointment in Greensboro, we express deep gratitude from the bottom of our mountain hearts.

Date/Time

Saturday, May 20, 2017 8:30am 10:30am

Location

184 Hodges Gap Rd

Boone, NC 28607

Hunters Heroes, a non-profit in Boone, NC, is hosting a 5K & 10K Memorial Run on May 20th, 2017 at 8:30 am. All money raised from the run will be given to support families of public safety officers and military personnel to thank them for their service to North Carolina and to the United States.

EVENT: Hunters Heroes 5K

Route will span from Watauga County Sheriffs Office to Boone Police Department START TIME: 8:30am EDT REGISTRATION LIMIT: 493 spots left. PRICE: $25.00 Race Fee + $2.50 SignUp Fee REGISTRATION: Price increases to $30.00 after March 31, 2017 at 11:59pm EDT

EVENT: Hunters Heroes 10K

Route will span from Watauga County Sheriffs Department to Boone Police Department and turn around and run back to the Watauga County Sheriffs Department for the awards ceremony and celebration. START TIME: 8:30am EDT PRICE: $35.00 Race Fee + $3.00 SignUp Fee REGISTRATION: Price increases to $40.00 after March 31, 2017 at 11:59pm EDT

Link to register: https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/NC/Boone/HuntersHeroes

Link to our website: http://www.huntersheroes2013.com/

Name: Carol Cook

Phone: (828) 262-7674

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Today's Email Announcements - High Country Press

All Women of Landmark (AWOL) is hosting Vicki Olatundun, executive director of Steinbach Family Resource Centre (SFRC), as their keynote speaker for an event called Mothering: It Takes a Village on May 31 at the Kinsmen Community Centre in Landmark, MB.

Olatundun is a former criminal law attorney and a well sought after thought-provoking motivational speaker, a university guest lecturer and college instructor. She will present an empowering message for all women on or supporting others on their mothering journeys.

Under Olatunduns directorship, Steinbach Family Resource Centre won the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce Non Profit Excellence Award in 2016.

National Magazine Canadian Living calls Olatundun a Change Maker (2015) and she was a YMCA/YWCA Women of Distinction Award nominee (2014).

Olatunduns first book, Unleash Your Crazy to Win: How Overcoming Infertility Led to Business Success, hit the best sellers list in Winnipeg last June at McNally Robinson.

The AWOL program runs in Landmark. It focuses on monthly evening events on womens issues, mental health, wellness, and how to foster a community of support for women in rural Manitoba.

AWOL is extremely excited to host Vicki, says Sara Dacombe, event facilitator. Our program is a small community group run by a committee of about five women. This is our first year running and we have presented seven events this year. It can be hard finding womens resources when you live in a small town, but hearing about Vickis support for rural communities and having Vicki come to speak is phenomenal.

Healthy communities exhibit strong family relationships, says Olatundun. Our mission aligns with AWOLs, to enhance health and wellness as well as learning and growth opportunities for women, yes, and for children and families in our community. We believe that community does not just happen, it is intentional. SFRC is an intentional community family resource centre aimed at all families that reside in the South Eastman area, and we are happy to come alongside AWOL in helping to build their community efforts in this, their first year.

Olatundun is a self-described community-minded social justice warrior.

I advocate for families and for all people regardless of their socio-economic status. I enjoy challenging the status quo, opening closed doors and helping people. I choose to make a difference, says Olatundun.

AWOL is a community womens group that creates opportunities for women to experience community by presenting events on friendship-building and womens issues. The group is aimed at women of all ages and all backgrounds, and emphasizes its intent to create an inclusive environment. The focus of content is values-based and presented non-religiously.

We are currently sponsored by Heartland Community Church in Landmark, says Dacombe. We are starting small, but we are researching our possibilities for the future, and I would say that AWOL is interested in growing their support base to include government health and wellness grants to continue to find better ways to serve the community in the future.

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Landmark to host Steinbach Family Resource Centre event for women - mySteinbach.ca

Jessica Campbell of the Rural Organizing Project spoke to a packed room at Temple Beth Israel on Saturday, May 15, about the many layers of white supremacy and the rise and resistance of white nationalist movements in Oregon.

On that same day a white nationalist group passed out fliers around Eugene advertising for a website called True Cascadia.

Throughout her presentation, Campbell shared stories of rural resistance organizations that came about to oppose militia groups and the attempted organization of an Aryan Nations chapter in eastern Oregons John Day.

Patriot groups have what Campbell calls a thinly veiled white nationalist agenda. The militia movement often takes advantage of economically depressed towns, offering a form of infrastructure, and when members move into an area they carry assault rifles. These groups also attempt to force immigrants out of communities.

Campbell says militia groups offer intentional education to undermine the U.S. Constitution and often refer to only the first 10 amendments, purposely leaving out amendments that extend and protect equal rights.

Militia groups also rely on conspiracy theories to spread their propaganda and use code phrases like big banks to refer to the Jewish community.

But rural organizers throughout Oregon have gathered to take a stand against white supremacy groups forcing them out by pressuring local media outlets and with peaceful public gatherings.

The group Together for Josephine was a local campaign of farmers, teachers and others who gathered petition signatures and wrote letters to the editor of their local paper, causing the militia to lose its base of support.

The Bundy occupation in Harney County dominated national headlines for months, but while in Burns, Campbell noted a big portion of the story wasnt being reported: Instances such as when members of the militia attempted to intimidate people at the local Safeway, or when a few days after the occupation began, Campbell says 1,000 people showed up in a town of 8,000 at a meeting.

Campbell says all the hands she could see went up against the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. All of the shops in Burns closed on the day the community organized against the occupation on the steps of the courthouse.

A branch of the Aryan Nations attempted to organize in John Day, but 375 locals showed up and opposed the formation of a national branch of the white supremacy group, according The Oregonian.

Campbell co-authored the study Up in Arms: A Guide to Oregons Patriot Movement, which the Rural Organizing Project says is a report and toolkit designed to support local communities, reporters, public officials, and community activists under siege from or curious about armed militias and other Patriot movement groups. You can read it at rop.org/up-in-arms.

If you have received fliers from white supremacy groups, email us at editor@eugeneweekly.com or write a letter to the editor, letters@eugeneweekly.com.

Read more from the original source:

Resisting White Supremacy - Eugene Weekly

Aloe Blacc can remember his first time in the muggy oasis of New Orleans clear as day. It was before Good Things Aloe, when he was still in his future soul hip-hop phase, but not yetintegrated into the music industry as a soul singer and Grammy-nominated recording artist. It was a very messy time in his life literally. Hed taken over the town for his best friends bachelor party, passing through the citys storied daiquiri drive-thrus, speed racing through the bayou and letting confectioned sugar powder their good clothes in a beignet fight.

Aloe has since returned to the city several times in a more professional capacitieshe and Pharrell touched down in the Big Easy for Bruno Mars 2014 Moonshine Jungle Tourbut his most recent trip was to honor one of musics biggest influences: jazz. Aloes passion for jazz and the influence music like it has on the world is why Hilton Honors tapped him for their Music Happens Hereprogram.

We look for artists who are passionate about something, Mark Weinstein, Senior Vice President & Global Head of Customer Engagement,Loyalty and Partnerships says of Aloe. Just hours after letting six Hilton Honors members in on an exclusive studio session, Blacc serenated about 200 more at the House Of Blues last Friday (May 12). [Aloe] said, I love R&B and jazz, thats where this all comes from. He wanted to rerecord What A Wonderful World, the Louis Armstrong song, and really wanted to come to New Orleans.

During the hour-long showcase, Aloe ran through some of his most popular cutsYou Make Me Smile,the Elton John-sampling Im The Man, Wake Me Up and a snazzy, slowed down cover of Michael Jacksons Billy Jean were fan favoritesbacked by a vibrant band that brought out the best of all the instruments they played.

Staying in line with the iconic genre perched on his pedestal, jazz also heavily influenced Kendrick Lamars To Pimp A Butterfly, an album Aloe feels was one of the most poignant musical statement-pieces in the last few years. Aside from the stanzas and melodies woven through Kung-Fu Kennys heavily lauded 2015 LP, what Aloe loves most is the intentional nature of the Compton, Calif. natives artistry. Yes, the music sounds damn good, but more importantly, its Kendricks way of feeding ideas of how to fix communities of color from the inside out that impresses him.

READ: Fashawn, Nas And Aloe Blacc Give Us Something To Believe In

Its easy to identify an artist like Kendrick because you know that he is using his platform, he says. Hes really smart about slowly opening that envelope to where hes really trying to educate folks with the lyrics.

In addition to waxing poetic about the power of K. Dots prose, Aloe sat down with us to talk about how his mentor Harry Belafonte inspired the way he donates to worthwhile causes, why its a good thing that the privileged are trying to stay woke and how his own music falls in line with these turbulent times.

VIBE: What made you feel that the Music Happens Here was a great fit for you to come back to New Orleans and highlightthe jazz scene? Aloe Blacc: Well, jazz was born here in New Orleans and has influenced, if not, ignited the foundation of so many other styles of music. Saying music happens here is more than just saying that its happening here. Music has happened here, music started here, and its spread across the world. Youve got an artist like Louis Armstrong, who weve been paying homage to, who took jazz around the world. He humanized the idea of a black man, although it still took decades. His music was in the homes of people who regularly would not have acknowledged him or his family, his people. I think to say music happens here, its much deeper than that. To come here and pay homage to that legacy for me is an honor.

The last two years have been a great time for music and a pivotal time in terms of people opening up and saying what needs to be said. What are some of the projects that have really moved you or impressed you? Ive been listening to a lot of old stuff, but when it comes to new stuff and new artists who are really pushing the envelope? I think its easy to identify an artist like Kendrick [Lamar] because you know hes using his platform and hes really smart about slowly opening that envelope to where hes really trying to educate folks with the lyrics. You gotta get em in. First you attract them. Hes attracted so many ears, and now hes able to start feeding those ears with the messages that he wants to deliver. Its almost diametric opposition to his contemporaries. Listen to the other hip-hop thats in the landscape right now and it just doesnt even compare in terms of the literacy and the content. Thats one artist.

Theres Tom Morello who never really stopped. With Rage Against The Machine, the name of their group was an important message to begin with, but it was almost like they were really popular for teenagers who are engaged in adolescent angst anyway, so rebellion is kinda part of the deal. When you see an artist like Tom Morello continue on in his activism and work with Chuck D and other activists who are artists, you recognize it wasnt just a schtick, it was real, and those messages are beyond teenage angst. Those are messages that we shouldve been espousing and holding near, because when you take your eye off of the tower, somebody might supplant the establishment and take the position at the top of the tower. You wouldnt even know what happened. But when youre already part of that kind of mindset of watching out, being astute and paying attention to whats going on, you see it, you know it and you just wish that you could scream loud enough for everybody else to hear so that you can amass a movement. I think now that you see these rallies and marches like the one that happened after Inauguration, there are people whove never marched for anything in their lives in that one.Those are the people who probably felt privileged enough or didnt even recognize their privilege that they were part of they were potentially a victim or going to be threatened, just didnt even see it. But now theyre all woke and I dont mind, because we need as many colors of the rainbow as we can have to be part of the movement.

READ: Rewind: 10 Missteps Pepsi Ignored In Their Diversity Ad With Kendall Jenner

You touch on a cool point: people marching whove never marched before in their lives. A big critique that our generation gets is that were not IRL with it. So many conversations happen via social media in this very safe, contained digital realm, but then you have the people who do go out, but dont know how to continue that conversation. What, do you think, are some ways to resolve this disconnect? I look at my heroes and my mentors; Harry Belafonte, for instance. Hes a mentor to many of us in the music business. We spend time at his house, he tells us about the stories where he had to convince Dr. Martin Luther Kings father that sending Martin Luther King to Europe was the right way to fund the movement. After Harry had spent all his money on private planes because it was dangerous to have Martin Luther King in public at some point, on hotel rooms, on venues, on buses. When money was drying up from the people like me.We go out, we sell the songs, we make the money, then we dole it out to the organizations that we believe are doing the right work on the ground. Youve got to come up with different strategies. What I feel is the answer is, we are looking to the elders, we learn those strategies and methodologies, and we find the organizations that are on the ground working hard. We see a lot of artists start their non-profit organizations and their philanthropies. A lot of that is a tax shelter.

The way I understand it, if theres an organization already doing the work, I dont need to start a foundation. They just need my money. And thats what happens. Ill do a show, and Ill tell either the buyer or the booker to be sure a portion of that goes to the organization or when I get paid, a portion of it goes to the organization. Thats really how all of us should be working. But you get your folks that start their foundations and they have gala nights and they raise more money for the foundation and really its just a tax shelter. Its kind of disheartening knowing that people like Sidney Portier and Harry Belafonte funded organizations that put foreign nationals through university programs here in the United States, one being Barack Obamas father. So had he not had the likes of the entertainment elite put money in the coffers of these foundations for young aspiring youth, we wouldnt have had our first black president. Thats the legacy, and a lot of people dont know that story. They wont ever understand the power of what we do as artists. And I ask them, did you ever feel like you were compromising anything by being a popular artist? He said no, because he would always try to put the message in the music, too. When he sang Day O, it sounds like a fun island song, but really thats a day laborers hardship. He put the real message in the music. He didnt compromise, even though it may look like it because hes a pop artist, but he was still true to what he had learned from his predecessors.

CREDIT: Brian Nevins/Getty Images for Hilton

Your music, and even some of the imagery in your videos, seems right for right now. It parallels those feelings and messages of today, as well as gives that necessary escape and uplifting energy. Did you have any sort of inkling or foresight that your music would play that kind of role now? I dont know if I had the foresight for it, I just know what I feel needs to be said. I get this opportunity to be marketed and promoted by one of the biggest pop labels in the world, and as long as theyre willing to put money behind it, then Im going to take the opportunity to either uplift or educate. Its either going to be Wake Me Up or Love Is The Answer, or like on my second to last album, Life So Hard or Politician. So its not something I foresaw. I didnt realize it would get to this dire situation so quickly, but were here. So Im going to put the messages in the music and try to get the record label to push it. I just recorded a song which I think is going to be my next single and I used the music videos a lot of the times as the PSA. I have a dream for my next single chronicling the story of Madiba, of Nelson Mandela. I think we need a visual of what a real leader is so we can understand the juxtaposition of whats happening in this administration. Of course we just had Obama, but its just too recent. People arent really championing that legacy, so we need to see one that everybody agrees on. Indisputable. Then we do the litmus test. We look at this and look at that and you tell us what is real.

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Aloe Blacc Is A Testament To The Strength Of Strategic Giving & Intentional Artistry - Vibe

I may be somewhat out of step with my fellow Reformed Christians in acknowledging a certain affinity for St. Benedict and the way of life he represents. In my youth I made the chance discovery, via the Lutherans, of the ancient Daily Office, associated with the early monasteries and prescribed in St. Benedicts Rule. I grew to love this pattern of daily prayer, and it managed to change my life, immersing me in the Psalms and the rest of Holy Scripture, as well as in the early Christian canticles and hymns. For monks in the Benedictine tradition, daily prayer structures the entire day and the whole of their life in community. I could not help but wonder what would happen if the majority of Christian laity outside the monasteries were to take up this practice. If enough people did so, it might just change the course of history.

When I read some time ago that Rod Dreher was writing a book called The Benedict Option, I looked forward to reading it, suspecting that his vision might closely approximate my own hopes for the church's future. I was not disappointed. Drehers book is a bracing read, reminding us that the life in Christ is a communal life and that it often requires us to live against the grain of the larger culture. However, his tract for the times is not without defects, which I shall get to shortly.

First the positives. An Orthodox Christian, Dreher emphasizes that believers often must stand against the assumptions of the prevailing culture. Given my paternal Orthodox roots, I am pleased to read this because I recognize the perils of Christians ascribing to their ethnic nationalisms near canonical status. Advancing Romiosini or Mother Russia can deflect so many from their primary allegiance to Gods kingdom. Of course, as an American convert to Orthodoxy, Dreher could hardly be expected to identify with Greek or Russian irredentisms. Indeed, he brings to his adopted faith a depth of commitment he had already developed in his former communions.

H. Richard Niebuhrs classic Christ and Culture (1951) may offer a key to grasping Drehers agenda. In Niebuhrs memorable typology, the Christ against culture position is generally associated with the anabaptists, Tolstoyans, and various sects that position themselves as communal alternatives to the larger society, based of course not on ethnic distinctives but on fidelity to the gospel. In my own tradition, I find that many of my fellow Reformed Christians too easily speak of engaging the culture without having a strong sense of why they are doing so or of its associated perils. But Dreher gets this. Any effort to transform culture (Niebuhrs fifth and seemingly favored category) may do nothing of the sort if the Christian community does not first recognize the ways in which it is distinct from the culture it aspires to change.

The author emphasizes in particular the distortions of the sexual revolution and its proponents efforts to score a final victory over dissidents, particularly those who persist in affirming a biblical and covenantal understanding of marriage and sexuality. Sad to say, many churches have permitted the revolution to redirect the faith away from the hard path of obedience to one that simply affirms everyone without seeking to transform their affections and their lives by Gods word. It seems easier for some clergy to declare the love of God without emphasizing the need for the disciplined life as a vessel of this love. Nevertheless, proclaiming a boundlessly permissive love is not the gospel. Jesus did not die to liberate us from norms for living but to save us from the power of sin so that we might live for his glory in his good creation empowered by the Holy Spirit. Those who charge Dreher with fear-mongering and focusing too much on sex should recall that sexual libertinism, once thought a dangerous vice, has now been elevated to the hallowed status of an indefeasible human right, with little consideration for the negative consequences of so doing.

Dreher perceptively recognizes that the great falsehood we are fed by our post-Christian culture is that we belong to ourselves and that ones individual desires [are] the locus of authority and self-definition. Here he comes close to the Heidelberg Catechisms foundational claim that we are indeed not our own but belong to the God who has saved us in Jesus Christ. Small wonder, then, that he finds the Benedictine monasteries so attractive. Here members willingly embrace order, obedience, asceticism, manual labour, geographic stability, and, above all, daily prayer. Where else could one find a community whose very foundational principles contradict our culture of hedonism and egoism?

Where indeed. Of course, the vast majority of Christians cannot embrace celibacy and enter an actual Benedictine monastery. Dreher thus spends much of the remainder of his book visiting Christian communities around the world that have in some fashion exemplified the Benedictine way. These are intentional, multi-generational communities that thrive on liturgical worship, educate their own children, and embody something of a parallel polisthat is, an alternative to the modern political community, living within and alongside it but not investing too much hope in it. They do not eschew politics entirely, but they recognize that [n]o administration in Washington, no matter how ostensibly pro-Christian, is capable of stopping cultural trends toward desacralization and fragmentation that have been building for centuries.

I was quite drawn in by Drehers personal accounts of these communities and his willingness to learn from their experiences. Because I have just completed thirty years of teaching at a Christian university in Canada, I was most interested in his exploration of educational initiatives undertaken by ordinary Christians against long odds. I enthusiastically agree with Drehers counsel here: For serious Christian parents, education cannot be simply a matter of building their childs transcript to boost her chance of making it into the Ivy League. And: The separation of learning from virtue creates a society that esteems people for their success in manipulating science, law, money, images, words, and so forth. Dreher is right to understand education as formation of the whole person and not simply as the key to a better job.

Despite my general sympathy with what Dreher seeks to do in this book, I am less enthusiastic about other facets of his argument. Chapter 2, on the Roots of the Crisis, surveys Western history and draws unwarranted conclusions concerning the relationship between metaphysical realism and the late medieval nominalism of William of Ockham. Dreher contrasts the realist belief that God declares something good because it is good to the nominalist conviction that something is good because God declares it to be good. For the nominalist, God's will is more important than Gods intellect. But what if the very contrast between Gods will and Gods intellect is a false one? What if God transcends this and other distinctions? For example, following Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica, I, q. 9, art. 1), the scholastic philosophers famously observed that God is actus purus, or pure actuality, other beings partaking only of potentiality. But the very distinction between act and potentiality is a created distinction, which God brought into being and thus transcends.

One wonders whether the fourth-century Cappadocian Fathers, with whom Dreher is in communion, might warn him away from this attempt to capture God within created categories. If so, he might have concluded that both realists and nominalists had missed something fundamental, namely, that God does not merely declare things good because they are good. Nor does he declare something good because he wants it to be good. Rather, God himself is the origin of all good things, which have no existence apart from him. Because Drehers account of the historical relationship between realism and nominalism is basic to his subsequent argument, it cannot be dismissed as a side issue. Moreover, it is one example of how his treatment of history dances along the surface of a number of eras, persons, and schools of thought without addressing them in sufficient depth to render them more than caricatures.

The chapter I found most frustrating was chapter 10, on Man and the Machine, in which Dreher treats technology. The challenges he addresses are, of course, genuine. When I find myself wondering nervously, in the drivers seat, whether those pedestrians standing on the corner absorbed in their smart phones will actually walk into the street while Im turning right, I know something is amiss. Not paying attention to their surroundings, they risk getting hit. At the same time, one cannot launch a broadside against technology in general without causing some unintended collateral damage. After all, we human beings are created to shape culture. The very first chapter of Genesis alludes to this in a passage Reformed Christians often call the Cultural Mandate (Genesis 1:26-28). Unique among Gods creatures, we do not simply adapt to our natural environment; we adapt that environment to our own needs and purposes. There has never been a time when we did not do this. One might well argue that this is precisely what makes us human. So how can human beings eschew or escape technology? Even as we rail against technology, we do so through technological means such as the printed page or the internet.

What, then, is the difference between the pencil and the iPad? Both are technological means of communication, distinguished only by their respective abilities to reach smaller or larger audiences over lesser or greater distances. Amish and Old Order Mennonites reject the technology of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, limiting themselves to horses and carriages and nonelectrical lighting in their homes. Yet in so doing they have not rejected technology as such, only the more recent technological advances. What principles do they employ to enable them to discern which means are permissible and which are not? Why animal power and not the electric motor? Readers might similarly wish to know why Dreher judges newer forms of technology to deprive us of agency but not the older forms with which he appears reasonably comfortable.

Yet it seems clear, at least in some passages, that he sees technology not in structural but in what might be called directional terms. In other words, technology refers, not to the machines themselves, but to a worldview tending to instrumentalize the physical environment surrounding us, including our fellow human beingsa technocratic mentality. Here Dreher is closer to the mark. If God gave our first parents a cultural mandate in the first chapter of Genesis, we are painfully aware that by the third chapter that they have messed up, claiming the power to become gods. By the fourth chapter we see men building cities, herding livestock, making music, and fashioning bronze and iron implements. The development of these technologies is inextricably linked with the sin that has already deformed human life in so many ways. By chapter 11, even after God has purged the world with a flood, we see righteous Noahs wayward descendants once again impressed with their own God-given ability to shape culture and seeking to replace him with the work of their own hands.

Like all idolaters, we have so deified our culture-forming abilities that we believe we can shape our world in ways subject only to our own desires, rather than to the norms God has built into his creation. The key distinction, then, is not between technology and nontechnological life (as if that were possible), but between obedient and disobedient culture-making. This distinction points to what is perhaps the major flaw in Drehers otherwise winsome effort: the lack of emphasis on creation as a normative order to which everyone, irrespective of faith, is subject. Catholics call this natural law. Following Abraham Kuyper, Reformed Christians refer to it as common grace. Still others appeal to common sense. Whatever one calls it, the reality that creation constitutes a shared theatre for our ordinary human activities serves at once to soften the divisions among different faith communities and to offer hope in the midst of what may seem like dark times. Dreher has been castigated, not always fairly, for encouraging a new alarmism and for stoking fear in the hearts of his fellow Christians. While such criticisms are undoubtedly overstated, a recognition that God is faithful to his creation, even in the midst of our unfaithfulness, might go some way in alleviating Drehers own apprehensions.

In its heyday, communism looked set to hang on for the long term, dominating a huge swath of the Eurasian continent and seeking to expand its tentacles elsewhere. One of my graduate school mentors even expressed the opinion that Marxist-Leninist rgimes could rule the globe for two centuries. Yet this is to overestimate the power of an ideological illusion to reshape the world in its own image. Why? Because, no matter how powerful a particular political vision may appear to both supporters and detractors, it cannot indefinitely contradict reality with impunity. People can only live within a lie, as Vclav Havel famously put it, for so long. Truth has a way of making its presence felt, even as some undertake to deny it. Russian communism endured for seven decades before reality finally caught up with it and sent it to the ash heap. In the former Eastern Europe, it lasted only four decades.

Modern liberalism in its various formsincluding those popularly labelled conservativehas had centuries to shape and misshape our societies. Most notably, liberalism has sought to reconfigure as many communities as possible, including the institutional church, as mere voluntary associations. As it seeks to apply this voluntarism to marriage and family, which are not mere social constructs but are firmly anchored in Gods creation, we may see liberalism at last reaching a breaking point. Reality has a way of reasserting itself, even as people seek to deny it. Dreher is not wrong to alert us to the destructive power individualism and unbridled desire exert on the social fabric, but he would do even better to recognize that, by Gods grace, new forms of order manage to emerge out of the apparent chaos of social fragmentation. It has happened repeatedly throughout history and it will likely happen again. Yes, intentional communities may hasten that day, as did the first Benedictines, but creation itself is on their side, pulling even nonbelievers and adherents of other faiths in the right direction over the long term.

In the short term, there is ample reason for hope. Anyone paying attention to the world outside North America will recognize that the Holy Spirit is moving mightily in key regions of the globe. We have recently read that by 2030 China is likely to become the largest Christian country in the world, despite the official atheism that has dominated for the last nearly seven decades. Moreover, in a country that has been ruled by an islamist government since 1979, hundreds of thousands of Iranians are turning to Christ, something outsiders could never have anticipated a short time ago. Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world, boasts a huge evangelical community that has grown ninefold since 1970, during which time the countrys population has doubled. Seen from a global perspective, the church is steadily growing in ways that may be hidden from us in the West. I would love to hear Drehers thoughts on these developments.

Finally, I cannot resist commenting on Drehers use of the word option. Given that so much of our culture revolves around enabling individuals to choose, full stop, I would have used a different word: perhaps path or way. The book of Acts tells us that the first Christians referred to their own faith as The Way (9:2; 19:9; 22:4; 24:14, 22), indicating thereby that the faith is not merely a collection of dogmas but an active life of obedience to the God who has saved us through his Son. To live according to The Way is not merely one option among many; it is the path that leads to life. With Dreher, I believe that the future of Christs church lies, not with any one denomination or communion, but with Christians across denominational lines who simply undertake to live obediently in gratitude for their salvation. Whether we describe this way as Benedictine is not the most important thing, as Dreher would likely admit. But whatever we label it, it is something to which all Christians everywhere are called.

David Koyzis is Fellow in Politics at the St. George's Centre for Biblical and Public Theology, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. He is the author of the award-winning Political Visions and Illusions and We Answer to Another: Authority, Office, and the Image of God.

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Living Communally in God's Good Creation - First Things

May 16, 2017

By Costin Jordache, Director of Communication & News Editor, Adventist Review

A Milestone Moment

Close to 400 delegates from over 60 countries made their way to a historic city to participate in a historic event on May 10-14. Amidst ancient structures perched along Europes iconic Danube River, Seventh-day Adventist ministry leaders from around the globe gathered in Budapest, Hungary for the first-ever International Leadership Conference focused on issues impacting families, women and children.

The gathering was historic as three separate General Conference departmentsFamily, Womens and Childrens Ministriesjoined forces to address critical issues facing the three distinct, yet interconnected groups. The conference was themed, Reach the World, in line with the General Conference strategic plan motto and in an effort to emphasize the unmet needs within communities around the world.

This event is like a magnifying glass that focuses the energies of the church on where to bring the hope of Christ, his grace and soon return, said Doug Venn, General Conference coordinator for Mission to the Cities and Director of the Global Mission Urban Center. Venn coordinates the initiative to reach the fifty-one percent of the worlds population currently living in large cities. Throughout the event, Venns team displayed increasing amounts of postcards brought by delegates on a wall, surrounding a sign that read I Want This City.

Organizers emphasized this community-centered approach in a number of ways, including making intentional time for dialogue and conversation, allowing attendees to better understand how to reach families, women and children within their communities. "We will learn and grow together, said Trans-European Division (TED) president Raafat Kamal, whose regional world church territory hosted the milestone conference. People are hungry for a spiritual diet of substance and hope.

The unique moment was also marked with an introduction from the Hungarian Minister of State for Churches, Minorities and Civil Affairs, Mikls Soltsz. Soltsz emphasized the need for faith communities to address societal challenges by sharing Christian values. It looks like we live in a better age, said Soltsz. In many countries we have many opportunities. But there is a question. Do we recognize all the problems and fears that are all around us?

Tams csai, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hungary, recognized the significance of the Ministers address, stating that this means for us that the government would like to help all churches, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church, maintain Christian values, and we appreciative very much that he was willing to come and support our church.

Modern Family Profile

The first keynote of the of the multi-day conference was delivered by Dr. Ella Simmons, general vice president for the world Church. Simmons was clear and direct in her description of the modern family unit, an image characterized by significant dysfunction. She shared her deep interest in in how families live together after the divorce of her own parents at an early age.

Simmons focused most of her thoughts on the biblical story of Jacob and Esau, pointing out the significant dysfunction within that family unit. She concluded that most of the alienation within families occurs due to the lack of forgiveness present in broken relationships and she challenged Church leaders and members to take seriously the ministry of reconciliation entrusted to believers by Christ. Sometimes you cant just build the bridge, explained Simmons, you have to be the bridge to reconciliation.

Driving home the very reason the conference was organized, Simmons reminded attendees that if we want to reach the world we need to remember that the first victories must be won in the home life.

Numbers Speak Volumes

Another notable aspect to the conference was the presence of Dr. George Barna, well-known author, researcher and statistician, whose researched has informed the Christian community around the world for decades. Barna, who delivered two plenary session lectures, informed the crowd that even though his ancestry is Hungarian it was his first time in the Eastern European country.

Barna spared no time unleashing a slew of new US-based statistics, gathered by his current firm, American Culture & Faith Institute. He encouraged those from other countries to understand the principles behind the numbers pointing to trends around the world. He spent most of his time unpacking the concept of worldviewa set of filters by which we perceive the world around usand the impact that society is having on younger generations.

His 2017 survey revealed that while 58-70% of parents see value in their children being exposed to extended family gatherings, church services, art exhibits and the Bible, children on average spend only two hours per week on these activities. In contrast, 33-43% of parents do not see value in their children being exposed to professional sports, television news, online content and current movies, yet children on average spend seven hours per day on these and related activities.

Barna then announced that statistically a very small amount of younger people have what he called a biblical worldviewonly 4% of 18-30 year-olds and 7% of 30-49 year-olds. We are in a crisis, Barna said. If the Church does not wake up and solve it, biblical Christianity in the United States is in jeopardy.

The researcher then turned his attention squarely to parents, offering a statistical call to parental responsibility. He pointed out that while children form their worldview by the age of 13, only 5% of parents with 5-13 year-old children in the US have a biblical worldview. Our children usually make their spiritual choices by default, acquiescing to cultural norms, he concluded.

We want to inspire leaders to see how we can encourage and empower children, women and families to reach out to the world.

Barna ended on a positive note, emphasizing that though not easy, worldviews can be changed through proper asking of questions and meaningful dialogue with children and teens, in an effort to dislodge what culture has placed in their minds.

Barna sees tremendous value in the Seventh-day Adventist Church organizing a global summit to address family-related issues. The world is changing so rapidly and so radically, that traditional approaches and strategies are not enough, Barna told Adventist Review. The Church needs to understand the latest research available, and the meaning behind the data if we are to effectively grow disciples.

Organizers, emphasizing the conferences Reach the World motto, resonated with Barnas conclusion. Parents must be intentional about making sure sound biblical values are passed on to their children on a daily basis through family worship, and by modeling Godly living, said Willie Oliver, director of Family Ministries for the world church and one of several organizers.

You can't get more missional than this. Because, when we have strong families, we will have a strong church, that can share the gospel with power and joy, and help hasten the coming of Jesus Christ.

Attendees also reacted positively to Barnas research. Dr. Barna has done practical research and practical issues, said Samson Nganga a member who traveled from South Africa for the conference. So as a church, we cant remain nave about the things happening around us. Sometimes we preach from the mountaintop and were totally disengaged with the people in the flock. We need good research to give us insights into leadership.

A Generation at Risk

Closely related to Barnas research was content presented by Dr. Kiti Freier Randalla pediatric neurodevelopmental psychologist from Loma Linda University Health. Randall, who works extensively with at-risk childrenemphasized from the beginning the role of the home in childhood development. Although other supportive institutions in society play a role, it is in the family that nurture if effective and meaningful.

Randall contrasted the idyllic statement with the reality that children around the world are at risk from a great number of factors. Lack of access to education, especially for girls, is a significant risk, leading to other risk factor such as poverty, drug use and an increased rate of teen pregnancy and gang violence. Childhood obesity is another risk factor, leading to serious lifelong consequences.

At the same time, malnutrition and starvation continue to present a risk to children around the world, in addition to abuse of various kinds. Randall explained in detail the effects of trauma and abuse, including showing a brain scan that showed a visible difference in the brain of an abuse victim. Trauma, abuse and neglect actually change the architecture of the brain, said Randall, who also informed participants that if a child is born healthy and they die before one year-old, the number one reason they will die is because their parents will kill them.

Randall also spoke to a controversial subject, the risk factor involving technology addiction. Too much, or misused technology can impact a childs physical and mental health, she explained, leading to negative impacts such as sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety. To spontaneous applause from attendees, the pediatric psychologist challenged parents not to expose children under two years of age to technology. It is wrong when technology is raising our children, she said.

In her second presentation, Randall offered a bright spot to the daunting realities she began with. Science is focusing increasingly on the idea of resilience, the capacity to maintain or develop competent functioning in the face of major life stressors. Factors such as social support, connectedness, meaningful activity and exercise all lead to increased resiliency.

When asked by the Adventist Review how these insights impact the Adventist Church, Randall said that from her work of 30 years with the highest at-risk children in the world, she realized that what they need, our church has to offer. Our church has all the elements that we need to change trajectory to a positive one. We have the ability to provide meaningfulness and hope in life. We have the ability to provide nurturance and relationship with healthy adults, and access to health activities. If you look at the scientific literature of what we need for resiliency in our children, concluded Randall, those can all be answered as a mission of our church and I believe were called to do that; to give of our ourselves in a positive healthy relationship to spend time with young people and make a difference in their life.

Mental health professionals in the audience agreed. I completely agree with what Dr. Randall said, shared Dr. Gabor Mihalec, a practicing family therapist and the director of Family Ministries for the host Hungarian Union Conference. There has to be somebody who breaks this chain right here and right now. And I think that we as a church; we as pastors, as members; as family life educators have a very special gift and a very special opportunity to have insights into the lives of families where the things are happening.

Once again feedback was positive, even as delegates grappled with the realities presented. Without knowing the risk that our children are going through, we dont have the church of tomorrow, said Zodwa Kunene, Children and Womens Ministries director in the Southern Africa Union Conference. I believe that its up to us as leaders, its up to us as parents to impact our churches; we can win back our communities.

Continued Dialogue About LGBT

Each of the three departments hosted seminars throughout the afternoon focusing on elements specific to their area of ministry. Among other topics, Family Ministries directors Willie and Elaine Oliver facilitated a dialogue surrounding LGBT issues and questions. Dr. Ekkehardt Mueller, associate director of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI), gave an overview of the subject, highlighting research done by BRI in gathering biblical insights into the matter.

Mueller spent significant time in Romans 1, a biblical reference where homosexuality is specifically mentioned. He made it clear that the Seventh-day Adventist Church does not condone the sin of homosexual activity. However, he reminded attendees that we distinguish between homosexual orientation and homosexual activity.

As Adventists we respect all people, whether heterosexuals or homosexuals, Mueller presented. We acknowledge that all human beings are creatures of the heavenly Father and are extremely valuable in Gods sight. Therefore we are opposed to hating, scorning, or abusing homosexuals.

Mueller also reminded delegates of the broader reality of sin, even within Romans 1. Sin is serious business whether sexual sin or other sin, whether heterosexual sin or homosexual sin, he explained. Romans 1 begins a longer discussion on the state of all human beings. A painful diagnosis is provided. We are all sold under sin and have to expect death. But this diagnosis is given in order for us to long for and appreciate the power of the gospel of salvation which is available to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16)

A second presentation was delivered by Virna Santos, a representative of By Beholding His Love, a ministry focused on equipping individuals, families, churches, and schools with biblical-based training, while teaching the methods of Jesus to understand issues related to sexual identity struggles and facilitating healthy, genuine and intentional connection between Church and LGBTQix communities.

Santos, who shared her own journey as a formerly practicing member of the LGBT community, offered insights into the struggle parents of LGBT children initially go through and the significant struggles that young LGBT individuals go through along their journey. Theyre tormented by fear and rejection from the people they love the most, their parents, Santos said. Santos also offered insights into how parents can interact with children who are open about their struggle with sexual identity.

With parenting in general, its amazing what you can learn if you just listen, explained Elaine Oliver, associate director of Family Ministries for the world church. Sometimes we become impatient, forgetting that God is never impatient with us. The same principle applies to the way we should interact with children wrestling with sexual identity questions.

We need to be careful not to cherry-pick when it comes to sins, concluded Willie Oliver at the close of the panel discussion. We need to be like Jesus. We have to genuinely love others. Youre not going to reach anyone for Jesus, unless you genuinely love them.

Woman to Woman

Meanwhile, the Womens Ministries Department hosted seminars centered on women interacting meaningfully and purposefully with women of other faiths. Department director Heather-Dawn Small and associate director Raquel Queiroz de Costa Arrias, invited guest speakers to both teach and inspire women how to reach out into various communities of women.

Weve got to help our women look beyond themselves and the ones they know to the ones they dont know, said Small, to the ones who dont look like them; the ones who dont speak their language and whose culture is different. That was the main focus of our training here.

For some, this track was the most impacting. I am from Mongolia and we, too, have women of other faiths among us, said Oyuntuya Batsukh, Director of Womens Ministries for the Mongolian Mission. Unfortunately, many times, we are afraid and stand far off. Its critical that we learn how to reach women in all communities, creating meaningful relationship with them.

An Unexpected Need

Across the hall, the Childrens Ministries department, led by Linda Koh, director and Saustin Mfune, associate director, was exploring a topicamong otherswith an unexpected twist. Seminars focused on impacting and ministering to children from affluent homes.

Presenters shared several of the leading causes contributing to the possibility of emotional troubles within affluent environments, including excess pressure to excel exerted by parents attempting to stay ahead of the success curve. Another risk factor includes increased isolation typically experienced by children as parents become more affluent and, in general, busier and less connected as a result. Various principles and ideas were shared for effective ways to minister to children in these circumstances.

A New Level of Missional Synergy

While the topics covered and the dialogue facilitated were both practical and critical for mission, it was the unprecedented collaboration of three world church departments that stood out most.

This has been a tremendous collaboration between these three departments, shared Geoffrey Mbwana, general vice president of the General Conference with Adventist Review. In as much as they are dealing with common issues, addressing people that make up families, this has been a very profitable experience where they have brought the experiences of the three departments to a common front. I think this has been a big savings of money, but also weve had an opportunity now to see how we can cross bridges of departments to be effective and impact the community and the church as a whole.

The visible synergy created by the departmental triad inspired leaders from around the world. This is, as far as I know a first, said Audrey Andersson, executive secretary of the Trans European Division, and just the collaboration, to see how these areas intertwine with each other and how each feeds into and can support the other, that has been a real blessing. Musa Mitekaro, Family Ministries director from the East-Central Africa Division agreed. I was impressed by three departments coming together for mission.

Measuring success is many times a moving target, yet organizers of the global conference expressed confidence in the events positive outcome. Wille Oliver summarized this by drawing, in part, from a panel discussion on the last day of the gathering featuring several departmental leaders from various countries. Many shared new convictions established during the conference by listening to compelling truths that were not clear to them before, said Oliver. Especially the fact that areas they once believed had nothing to do with their respective ministries, were obviously also their concern.

Im a convert, shared Carla Baker, Womens Ministries director for the North American Division, at the close of the conference. I do believe that Womens Ministries can do a lot to reach the mothers. I will be doing something about that.

Oliver also pointed to requests for future events as an indicator of success. This level of new synergy, as well as requests by many conference participants to repeat this kind of event in the near future, are indicators of a level of success we expected as an outcome of this shared effort by Children's, Women's, and Family Ministries.

We want to inspire leaders to see how we can encourage and empower children, women and families to reach out to the world, concluded Koh. This is what he hope to accomplish.

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Global Conference Focuses on Issues Impacting Families, Women and Children - Adventist Review

Carl Hart, Ph.D., is the first black tenured professor and the first black chair in the sciences at Columbia University. (Courtesy of Carl Hart)

Carl Hart, Ph. D., one of the worlds leading neuroscientists and chair of the psychology department at Columbia University, was forced to cut a trip to the Philippines short last week due to death threats sparked, in part, by propaganda disguised as media.

Hart, the author of High Price: A Neuroscientists Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society, was in the Philippines participating in a forum on the drug war at the University of the Philippines.

The acclaimed scientist shared some of his findings debunking hysterical claims that drug use is inherently pathological and causes users to become violent and otherwise incapable of functioning in their daily lives. Hart also did not shy away from fiercely criticizing Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, known for spearheading a deadly war on drugs in his country.

In response, Duterte became furious when reporters asked him about Harts statements.

In addition to calling Hart a fool, Duterte said that his research is nothing more than American bullshit.

[Hart] said shabu does not damage the brain. Thats why that son of a bitch who has gone crazy came here to make announcements, Duterte told Philstar.com.

Shabu is a slang term used in Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to describe methamphetamine.

Agnes Callamard, the Director of Global Freedom of Expression at Columbia University and a United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions, is also an opponent of Dutertes drug war and shared one of Harts tweets.

This caused Duterte to slam her for being in collusion with that Black guy.

She should go [on] a honeymoon with that black guy, the American. I will pay for their travel, Duterte told reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They should be together and discuss.

In addition to his decadeslong research on drug addiction, Hart has openly discussed his experimentation with methamphetamine. He has also been unrelenting in cutting through stigmatizing rhetoric that has, in large part, fueled the war on drugs. He never wavers in pointing out the similarities between ADHD drug Adderall and meth, as well as presenting evidence that cocaine and tobacco have similar results on the fetus.

Two of the above substances are legal: Adderall, which is beloved by Big Pharma, and tobacco, which has been legally pushed in black and brown communities (PDF) for decades while discriminatory drug policiesspecifically around crack and marijuanahave been used to terrorize and occupy those same communities.

Hart fearlessly pushes back against respectability politics and shame in black communities, demanding a shift in dialogue that includes: human beings having autonomy over what they put into own their bodies; following the data on what is dangerous to consume and in what quantities; realizing that all drug use is not problematic; zeroing in on the drug war as an intentional and institutional war on the most vulnerable, oppressed, and marginalized communities both domestic and abroad; and calling out state violence, specifically hyper-militarized policing as more dangerous than drugs for black people.

The most important conversation that I have with [my sons], in terms of drugs, is they are more likely to be arrested for drugs than their white friends, Hart said in conversation with asha bandele, senior director of Drug Policy Alliance during an FB Live chat on The Root.

The most potential negative impact or consequence is the police, not the drugs themselves, Hart continued.

During Drug Policy Alliances 2016 partner gathering at Columbia University, Hart also urged attendees not to be distracted by the simplistic, media-driven narrative of a gentler war on drugs.

They may be gentler on the [white] user, but black people are disproportionately arrested for the selling of opiates, Hart said.

In the U.S., its comfortable to arrest black and brown bodies, he continued. Always pay attention to whos getting arrested.

If there is one thing that Hart always does is make it plain; being in the Philippines, of course, didnt change that.

According to Reuters, Duterte signed an executive order in February authorizing the creation of the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD).

ICAD is comprised of at least 21 state agencies, from police, military and coastguard to health, education and social welfare. Though the government claims the purpose of the multi-pronged agency is to rehabilitate users and suppress dealers large and small, it has disproportionately targeted impoverished communities.

More than 8,000 people have been killed since the drugs crackdown started eight months ago [in 2006], 2,555 of them in what police say were shootouts during raids. [ICAD] says that 48,000 drugs suspects were arrested, Reuters reports. Dutertes has reportedly threatened to kill more.

Sound familiar?

Be clear: From the U.S., to Mexico, to Honduras, to Ghana, to Thailand, to the Philippines, the war on drugs is global.

In a Democracy Now interview, Hart talked about the death threats he received for unpacking the misleading rhetoric around shabu and for speaking out against Dutertes drug war in the Philippines.

From Democracy Now:

When I was in the Philippines, the thing that I discovered is that its a lot worse than I originally thought it was. Duterte operates in intimidation. And so, not only is he the problem, but there are other political officials who are afraid to speak out. They are the problem. And Duterte has taken a page out of the 1980s U.S. drug war, in that hes using drugs to separate people, the issue of drugs to separate the poor people from the people who have means. And he is allowing or providing the environment so people could kill, as you pointed out, kill people who are engaged in drug use and in drug trafficking. And people are afraid to speak out against this wrong, because Duterte has no qualms about having peoples lives be threatened. In fact, I discovered that people are being killed for as little as $100. It ranges from about $100 to $500 to have someone killed. And so, actually, I left the Philippines early because my life was threatened, because of me speaking out against what Duterte was saying about drugs and what hes doing. And so, we have it bad in the United States, but the Philippines, I have never seen anything like the Philippines.

See the entire interview below:

Truth-tellers such as Dr. Hart continue to put their lives on the line to end this inhumane war that has cost so many so much. History tells us that threats again black leaders deemed dangerous by those in power are rarely idle.

We should all be thankful for Dr. Harts life and his continued revolutionary work.

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Philippines President Attacks Neuroscientist Carl Hart for Speaking Against Drug War: 'That Black Guy'...'Son of a ... - The Root

Provided Photo The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center was named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a Model of Excellence. Pictured are senior officers and national officers: front row, left to right: Emilie Carter, Hadley Johnson, Sabrina Black; back row, left to right: Nicolas McGovern, Dylan Hensley, Keaton Pfeiffer, William Woodyard.

PIQUA The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center was recently named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a Model of Excellence recipient. This national program recognizes the exceptional integration and application of personal, workplace and technical skills in SkillsUSA chapter activities. This is one of the highest awards bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, which is among the largest student organizations for career and technical education.

The Models of Excellence program represents the very best in chapter achievement and community involvement, Timothy W. Lawrence, executive director of SkillsUSA, said. The Upper Valley Career Center chapter defines excellence across the board, serving as a model for other chapters to emulate in strengthening their local programs. These students represent our future workforce and reflect the future of their communities. What a tremendous honor that validates this outstanding SkillsUSA program.

In fact, the Upper Valley Career Centers SkillsUSA chapter is a repeat Model of Excellence recipient having received the recognition in 2016. The chapter operates under the direction of advisors Sara Plozay and Jeff Bertke.

We were thrilled with the 2016 award, but to earn this distinction two years in a row is very rare and especially gratifying, Plozay said.

Bertke added, We ask a lot of our student leaders and they continue to exceed our expectations.

The 24 Models of Excellence chapters will participate in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, June 19-23. Activities include finalist interviews, an awards dinner at the Kentucky Derby Museum, and recognition at an awards ceremony in front of more than 12,000 students, instructors and business leaders. The Upper Valley Career Center chapter will also receive a grant of up to $4,000 from program sponsor Lowes Companies Inc.

The Models of Excellence program promotes the intentional learning of personal, workplace and technical skills outlined in the SkillsUSA Framework for student development. Specific characteristics defined within each skill area help ensure tangible benchmarks for student achievement and chapter programming. Achievement is measured by the effectiveness of student efforts in implementing essential workplace skills including personal responsibility, integrity, work ethic and organization in chapter activities. The hands-on approach of this program actualizes the SkillsUSA mission of empowering members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

Provided Photo The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center was named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a Model of Excellence. Pictured are senior officers and national officers: front row, left to right: Emilie Carter, Hadley Johnson, Sabrina Black; back row, left to right: Nicolas McGovern, Dylan Hensley, Keaton Pfeiffer, William Woodyard.

http://tdn-net.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_SkillsUSA_officers_cmyk.jpgProvided Photo The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center was named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a Model of Excellence. Pictured are senior officers and national officers: front row, left to right: Emilie Carter, Hadley Johnson, Sabrina Black; back row, left to right: Nicolas McGovern, Dylan Hensley, Keaton Pfeiffer, William Woodyard.

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UVCC SkillsUSA receives national honor - Troy Daily News