Oliver Phillips

CONNEXION EMPOWERMENT CENTER INC., (ORLANDO) IS NOW DIAKONIA CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE (DCI), (MIAMI)
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DR. JOE MURUGAN CELEBRATES HIS 80+ BIRTHDAY THIS MONTH! HIS STORY IS TOLD IN THIS BOOK OF HIS JOURNEY.

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IN THE MIDST OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CULTURAL CHANGES IN THE US, IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO KNOW HOW PREPARED YOU ARE TO ADAPT AND ADJUST. DIAKONIA CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE (DCI) HAS PREPARED A CULTURAL COMPETENCY TEST. IT IS MULTIPLE CHOICE, AND FREE!
WHAT’S YOUR SCORE? THE AVERAGE IS: 60.7
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TO TAKE THE TEST: https://thediakonia.com/quizzes/cultural-intelligence-test/

Cultural Competency - Diakonia Christian Institute Cultural Competency Current Status Not Enrolled Price Free Get Started Login to Enroll Course Content Cultural Intelligence Test (CQ Test)

HAS THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE LOST ITS WAY?
IN THE MIDST OF A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS AND AN OSTENTATIOUS DEMONSTRATION OF UN-GRACE BY THE DEFEATED PRESIDENT, NAZARENE LEADERSHIP IS SILENT!
LEADERSHIP IS ALWAYS READY TO MAKE STATEMENTS ON DOCTRINAL ISSUES, BUT IS SILENT ON THE PRESENT CRISIS.
General Superintendent Jerry Porter warns, “The challenge for us today is to be very, very careful that as the Church of the Nazarene 21st century we have not now become a church that is insensitive to the poor.” Rather, he argues, “we need to be planting churches and initiating ministries constantly among the poor.”
For those who have experienced the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, Christ-likeness is forming in their lives. They are living daily in Christ and taking on the mind of Christ. Being partakers of the divine nature, Spirit-filled believers, with this nature, will begin to move as Christ: toward the pain, despair and brokenness of the world — not away from it. “Holy love draws them in,” Ron Benefiel contends, “so that they become fully present, incarnationally engaged, expressing the love of God in the world in ‘justice, mercy and truth.’”
This was the experience and practice of the Holiness leaders in 19th century America as historian Timothy Smith observed, “Men and women with hearts for the poor like Phoebe Palmer and B.T. Roberts . . . not only refused to forsake the city, but saw it, instead, as their venue for service.”
The General Assembly recognized an urban imperative and understood the cost in 1972 when it adopted a report from the Commission Relating Church and Society. The report called the denomination to a commitment to the cities. Dr. Raymond Hurn recalls, “It made three basic recommendations:
1. First that we commit our resources to where the people are.
2. Second, that we ‘commend and encourage’ our educational institutions to continue to give attention to preparing interested young people to offer their services to special ministries in large cities.
3. Third, because of the great challenge of the cities, the report calls for a ‘careful coordination of our efforts and the ingenuity of leadership at general, district and local levels.'’ It will require, the report said, ‘the total financial and manpower resources of the denomination.’”
The denominational distinctive of our Church is not just a doctrine to be discussed; it is an experience to be lived: a person’s heart and life purified by faith enjoying a grace-empowered relationship of perfect love for God and one’s neighbor.
Throughout most of the history of people who claimed to enjoy this experience of heart holiness, the evidence of that experience was loving care and concern for the poor. More often than not that passion for the poor took place practically and pragmatically in the cities.
In 1984 Paul Benefiel noted that the basic tenant of most holiness people in the late 20th century is “the conviction that the mission of the church is to preach the gospel and not to reform society.” [My emphasis] Dr. Benefiel’s phrase, “to reform society” alludes to the “mission” for which John Wesley believed God had raised up the Methodists: “not to form any new sect, but reform the nation, particularly the Church; and to spread scriptural holiness over the land.”
It is worth noting that the final phrase – “to spread scriptural holiness over the land” – is one Nazarenes have frequently quoted, but almost always in complete isolation from Wesley’s prior one!
Could revitalization of our doctrinal distinctive be inextricably tied to our demonstration of that doctrine through an intentional focus on the needs of people and their cities? Seeking once again to reform and transform the cities of our nations? Can speaking and writing correct words about a doctrine bring life to our denomination? Or might this only give the appearance or form of godliness without the power?
General Superintendent Jesse Middendorf declares, “Holiness is not removed and aloof from human need. It finds its best expression in close and personal identification with those whose needs are greatest.”
Certainly there are people with material needs living in rural and suburban settings, but as seminary president, urban pastor and sociologist Ron Benefiel states “the great majority of those in need live in our central cities. It is there more than anywhere that we, as the people of God, have the opportunity to show the love of God in ministries of compassion, mercy and justice.”
Today, seven million families in the United States are living in poverty. That is a total of 34.8 million Americans, of which 12.2 million are children. Will we Nazarenes be and live with them as witnesses to Jesus’ Good News for the poor? Will they have an opportunity to learn about and experience Scriptural holiness that can set them free from sin, filling their lives with love?
“We Nazarenes believe the original emphasis [of John Wesley]
to be both scriptural and relevant.”
-- Timothy L. Smith

READ MY BLOG ON -- UNGRACE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoODPzpPLUg

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AN AMAZING LACK OF GRACE: HOW TRUMP DESTROYED DEMOCRACY - DR. OLIVER R. PHILLIPS - (DCI) Donald Trump has been a divisive president, perhaps the most divisive in American history. Where other presidents have championed their own causes, Trump has...