April - May REWIND

It has been so long since we updated this blog, and it's not because there's nothing's to report, it's just I'm not sure I've sat long enough to think, let alone write what's been happening.

But now it's summer break for the kids, and after the last month of extra school activities and meetings and goodbyes, it feels like a break for us--but, nothing's further from the truth.  We're not on break, but there is a few days of <pause> around here.

And, I'll take it.

So, here's a quick rewind of April and May (followed with how June has begun and will continue)...

April began, coincidentally, with a break: Spring Break.  Our family took time together and escaped the city by the generosity of one of the families we serve to their Red Sea villa.  Just us, the sea, and actually a lot of wind this year.  But you can never complain about paradise.

Above, Keli with our friend David from Portland, preparing
part of the food packages for distribution at the H4L hub;
and Keli with a few of the girls at the Cedar Home
Orphanage.

Immediately, we returned to Orthodox Easter and the Egyptian holiday of Sham el Nissim - a beautiful day in the garden with a few members of the Cairo Christian Fellowship.  But Keli did not get to spend that Monday, April 13 with us--she flew to join a group of our supporters from Oregon in  Beirut as they served with one of our partner ministries, Heart for Lebanon.  They had come too far, and were too close, working with a ministry close to our heart, for us not to try to connect with them. Unfortunately, this was already quite a busy week in an already busy time, so Keli could only spend a few days with this group, as well as a brief check-in of the Cedar Home Orphanage, before she had to come back.

During the ETC, Ken brought Titus on stage to point out
various people in the room whom God had brought
into our lives over the past 12 years.
Below, Titus with Marie and some of the German teens.

Keli rushed back because our son Titus and I took off to Germany on April 16.  We left to participate in the European Theological Conference hosted by the German Church of God.  Several of our teammates were there, as they often participate in such European events together, but this was our first time to participate.  This biennial conference brought leaders together from over 10 countries.  It was really exciting to not only be in the midst of such diversity and unity, but a real honor to be asked to contribute a few times during the event, including sharing the final session on Practical Discipleship (to go along with their theme of "Making Disciples").  It was a real honor to share in this event, and an even greater pleasure to take along Titus and to introduce him to so many leaders in the region whom God had brought into our lives over the last dozen years--it was really cool to see how God had been working through so many relationships over the years, and to have so many of them either present or represented in the same event.  After the event, we joined Pastor and national German ChoG leader Hans-Ulrich at his family's home and community.  I have really enjoyed getting to know them since I met them last October.  Their teenage daughter Marie arranged a day with a few of the youth Titus' age while we visited together.

The next day, I was invited to speak in the Biebesheim congregation, pastored by Hans-Ulrich.  We had a great time with this congregation and with this family.  This made the following week's news all the harder to hear: a day or so after Hans-Ulrich took us to the hospital, he suffered a bad heart-attack.  His recovery has been slowed by multiple blockages that have required additional surgery.  Please for our friend Hans-Ulrich, and his family, and the congregation--pray for his healing, and everyone's peace during his recovery.

Dr. Latif and the Egypt pastors are praying for a great future.

A week later, April 22-23, I made a quick trip to Alexandria to participate with the Egypt national Church of God General Assembly meetings.  It was so exciting to see the vision and the strategic plan presented by new chairman Pastor Latif, and to see it so positively received by the other pastors and leaders.  The Egyptian Church is thinking outwardly with service to their communities, inwardly with an eye on improving leadership structures and responsibilities, upwardly with the intention to grow, and cooperatively with every pastor being assigned responsibilities to contribute to the whole.  We expect some great things ahead in the years to come from the Egypt Church of God.

Most of May was a much slower pace of ministry responsibilities, except for our weekly ministries to

the surprising prom date!

we had a formal, too

the Cairo Christian Fellowship and the CCF Kids program; however, we were very busy with the kids school activities and meetings for various groups we serve within the international school community.  In addition to the conclusion of baseball (Zeke), softball (Grace), and the annual Middle School play (Titus), there were annual events including the PTO gala fund-raiser, PTO end-of-the-year meetings, Health & Safety committee meetings, booster club meetings, end-of-the-year parties/socials, 8th grade graduation, prom, teacher and staff appreciation events, exams, senior graduation parties, ... - there was a lot going on, so much so that several parents like us felt as if we were spending more time at the schools than our kids!  I mentioned prom--it's worth noting that our petite daughter was asked to prom by one of the taller guys in the school, which would make for interesting pictures!  But he's no ordinary guy--he happens to be the great-grandson of the pastors who bought the property in which we live, who also happened to start the ministry we serve (CCF); his grandfather served that same group while his dad lived in these same villas; his grandmother is one of our greatest cheerleaders, and his aunt is one of our supervisors; oh, and his parents and us knew each
other in college!  Now, we're all in (back in) Cairo, and our kids happen to be in the same grade--how weird is it that these two kids wind up going to prom together?!?!

We ended May with a great visit by our dear friend Michele, whom we have known since we first

kids and parents at worship during FOCUS Weekend

Michele helped with crafts (& more),
below, we all enjoyed the time together in Cairo (below,
enjoying tea and stories at the Khan el Khalili
market).

began ministering in Alabama.  She continues serving the ministries of the Riverchase congregation, whom we served from 1999-2003, and where my parents and sister's family now attend.  Michele came out for a visit, and for us to put her to work.  We also had our teammates, friends, and fellow-Alabamians Zach and Audrey come down from their post in the U.K.  Together we provided what we called a FOCUS Weekend--our first, mini-retreat with the families of the CCF Kids program.  Each week, we provide a great program for the kids, and spend most of our energy focused on them.  Keli has the opportunity to meet with and develop relationships with a few of these moms in a weekly Bible study at the international church nearby; but other than that, we don't have the opportunity to speak into the lives and faith of the parents.  After group worship with the kids and parents, Zach, Audrey & Michele helped us by taking the children out to provide special lessons and crafts for the kids while we focused on the parents.  So, this was a "test the waters" type event to see how receptive they would be to the idea of gathering for worship and teaching.  And the result was very positive; two new families actually came to the event, and several are asking if we can do this again, potentially even having a "FOCUS Friday" event each

month.

brothers and sisters - just one family to whom our kids are
having to say "goodbye"

June began by beginning to say good-bye.  The difficulty of living in an international community abroad is that they are so transient--people come and go in two or three year assignments routinely.  For those who have been living like this for awhile, they know how to come in, establish relationships, and then pack-up and go almost too easily.  It really is difficult to develop deeper levels of relationship, friendship and trust with that lack of permanence - technology is supposed to help, but it actually just becomes another way that we have the facade of closeness to others without actually having any real depth of relationship.  It's particularly hard on our kids who spend a couple years developing relationships,
only to say, "goodbye," and have to start over.  This year, Titus watches several close friends move away; Grace has several either graduating or moving away.  While they have tried to maximize the remaining time with these friends to begin June, it is hard to see their sadness, and harder to see their increasing ability to let go.

Last Saturday of the school year with CCF Kids

Before the school year ended, evaluating the future of having a 7th grader, and two high schoolers in the fall--Titus beginning his freshman year (what?!?!), and Grace beginning her senior year (yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), we realized that this was not a summer for Grace to take lightly.  She has too many options for post-high-school, and not a lot of good ways to evaluate and trim those options from this side of the world.  We needed her to not spend her time soaking up the sun, or sitting in her room vegging all summer--we needed her to get out and at the very least, eliminate some options.  So, with the help of family, she took off to the States last week.  She will spend some time volunteering and participating in a couple of summer camps; as well as learning to drive, and visiting some schools and military recruiters (part of her many options right now) to gauge desire and ask questions.  Grace will also spend time with our friend Michele working with some of the special needs students that she teaches; this will be valuable volunteer and perspective experience for Grace, too.  She'll return before August with plenty of time to focus on the start of the school year, and hopefully with enough time reflecting and pondering what will happen at the end of this last school year.  Pray for Grace.

We closed out the school year and ended the spring session of the weekly CCF Kids program with our annual DVD release party, which features slideshows of the kids' pictures from the year--a favorite as they all love seeing themselves on the screen!  And ends with the kids splashing around in the water hose and sprinklers.  On this year's DVD, we added a bonus video compiled of some of the highlights and interviews with a few of the parents.  The "What We Love About CCF Kids" video is a great introduction to this growing weekly ministry--take a look...

Why We Love CCF Kids from Ken Keli Oldham on Vimeo.

Note: song on the video is "My God is Big and He Loves Me"

performed by Yancy 

for the Standard Publishing 2014 VBS program "Jungle Safari"

and audio was taken from YouTube video at this link: youtu.be/NQmMcSYO3Fw

Meanwhile, Keli took off to join our friends and teammates Dan & Christy Kihm in the Netherlands.  There, Keli will learn a bit about their diverse ministry area, try to give and receive some encouragement, and share a bit about the ministries in Egypt and Lebanon with some of the Dutch Church of God.  We'll catch up with Keli next week in Lebanon.

the Kihms are "selfie experts," so it's fitting for Keli to begin
her visit with an arrival selfie :)

So, that's a quick rewind--and a bit of a jump ahead.  A lot is happening by way of ministry.  I will try later this week to update the political/social/judicial/etc facets of life in the Middle East as we approach Ramadan, serious court cases, and some anniversaries of recent pivotal events.

As always, thanks for your prayers, interest, and support of our family and the ministries in the Middle East.  

European Theological Conference

I'm currently sitting in the Rome airport with Titus, preparing to catch a flight to Frankfurt, Germany.  We have our first opportunity to attend the biennial European Theological Conference hosted by the German Church of God.  This year's theme, "Go Make Disciples."

We have heard of this wonderful conference that offers fellowship, encouragement and rest to servants from throughout the region.  We are excited to have our first chance to attend, but the honor is heightened further as we have been asked to participate, too.  Many of our 3W Team will be attending, including Kelley Philips (XZ Berlin), the Kihms (Netherlands), the Simpsons (Bulgaria) & the Langford's (U.K.).  Together we will share the leadership of the Friday night session, on the sub theme of "relationships between disciples," allowing us to further share how 3W is here to serve the region and facilitate greater relationship together.

And, I have been asked to share a session on "healthy practices in making disciples."  I am very excited for this theme and opportunity to share these thoughts with leaders from so many countries at one time!

At the conclusion of the conference, we have been invited to worship with the Biebesheim congregation near Frankfurt. This congregation is pastored by German national leader Hans Linke.  Pastor Hans married a Lebanese believer and they have a wonderful family, including a teenage daughter who is organizing a youth gathering so Titus can meet some of the German teens.  Pastor Hans has often travelled to teach and encourage the pastors and leaders in Egypt.  It is another great invitation to preach in their worship service on Sunday.

But the best part is that I have the opportunity to share this experience with my son Titus.  We love our kids and we know that as they head into these teenage years, our time draws shorter with opportunity to appreciate them as children and invest into the adults they are quickly becoming.  We've always hoped to take one of our kids on trips like this, and since both Zeke and Grace have each already had an extra school trip this year, Titus got the opportunity.  He has previously travelled with me to Hungary a few years ago.

Pray for this event and our team opportunities to network, encourage, inspire, rejoice and even mourn with the brothers and sisters we will meet this weekend.

(Catching a 3:00 AM flight does not make us very photogenic!)

Egypt v. ISIL

An Update from Egypt,
and a few things our friends in the West should know...

Once again, Egypt is making headlines and some of our friends may be worried for our safety, and want a little more information than the repetitive soundbites and "expert analyst" commentary that you get on the American "news" networks.

As always, it's important for us to stress that we are NOT experts: three years of living and learning in the Middle East is like completing Pre-K when it comes to this complex, historically & culturally rich part of the world.

Secondly, and equally as important, what we share is not in anyway a critique of any culture, religion, political leader or policy.  We are guests and observers here, and we attempt to pass along the news as we read it through various links and updates to those who may want a personal take and additional information.

What's happened recently:

• sporadic, continuing random acts of violence disrupt daily life, largely targeting police or military, but also transportation infrastructure

as presented by British risk analytics firm Verisk Maplecroft

• January 25, 2011 Revolution anniversary led to some demonstrations and marches in which people were harmed and even killed as police attempted to keep the peace (see excellent photo gallery and captions here)
• February 11, 2015, disgruntled, eager fans attempting to enter a narrow passageway into a football (soccer) match got into verbal and possibly physical altercations with police; the use of teargas and other attempts to keep the fans in order led to disorder and panic.  As people attempted to flee, the steel structure that had been raised to funnel fans into the stadium also collapsed, leading to more than 20 deaths from the stampede and collapse.
• Since January 2015, more than 20 Egyptians working in Libya have been kidnapped.  One group of Christians were kidnapped from where they worked, separated from their Muslim co-workers by ISIL terrorists.  In a similar incident, but not perpetuated by ISIS, a group 21 Egyptian fishermen were kidnapped in Libya and, as I write this, are reportedly to have been released in Libya.

• February 15, 2015, on a video released by ISIL, 21 Christian Egyptians are seen being marched out along a Libyan shore where they were gruesomely executed.  The kidnapped individuals were all from the same community in Upper (southern Egypt), working in Libya because there was little economic opportunity for them here in Egypt.  As many as seven Christian Egyptians may be still held hostage by ISIL (see tweet below).  Within hours of confirming the deaths, the Egyptian military responded with a bombing raid into Libya by their Air Force, as well as making appeals for international intervention into Libya.

• February 17, 2015, the Egypt military deploys throughout Egypt as a precaution to aid police should any retaliatory effort be made by extremists associated to the Libyan group targeted by Egyptian air raids.

Things our friends in the West should keep in mind:

• The difference between ISIS and ISIL - you have likely seen the two sets of acronyms thrown

  

  differing ideas of the "levant" region
  - from Wikipedia

  around synonymously, and may wonder what (if anything) is the difference.  ISIS stands for "Islamic State of Iraq & Syria" and really was the first organized extremist threat we were all watching spring out of the Syrian conflict and into Iraq.  ISIL stands for "Islamic State of Iraq & the Levant" - the "levant" is a much broader territory that can reach (depending on depiction and definition) to include Syria to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, as well as Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan.  The switch to this term ISIL from ISIS indicates the recognized political agenda of the extremists to "conquer" and control a much larger region than just Iraq & Syria.
• The Egyptian Christians were NOT kidnapped out of Egypt.  The worry of seeing "Egyptian Christians" in the headlines is that some are assuming these were taken from or even killed in Egypt, which is not the case.  As mentioned above, these individuals had sought opportunity, despite warnings to stay away from Libya.
• Yes, Libya borders Egypt to the west, but both nations are huge - Egypt is closer in land mass to Alaska than Texas--it's so much bigger than our western paradigm of a "little corner" of the continent of Africa.  There is legitimate threat on the border between Egypt and Libya, but it's a long way from the population centers along the Nile which is eastern/central Egypt.
• The vast population of Muslims in the Middle East are appalled at ISIS and ISIL.  Some of you may need to read that again.  Egypt is about 90% Muslim in population, with about 9% Christian; the Muslim community mourned with the Christian community at the executions on the Libyan shore.  Muslim clerics went to share condolences with families of the victims in the village, as well as to Christian leaders there (see photo gallery here).  Muslim political leaders personally went to the Coptic Pope in Cairo to express sympathy and solidarity.  Thousands of friends, co-workers, and neighbors grieved together.  In the same way, Jordan, which has a higher percentage of Muslim population to Christian population (about 93% 6% respectively), was appalled at the execution of their pilot--a Muslim pilot--by ISIL, a group identifying themselves under the same religious name.  Both of these nations have millions of citizens living, working, studying, and even playing on teams together--Muslim and Christian, side by side.  The idea of universal hatred and ill-intent of Muslims toward Christians is a farce, often sensationalized to sell some story or agenda.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to sit down and have one of our regular dialogues with Dr. Latif, a pastor who serves as the national leader of the Church of God in Egypt.  Despite the difficulties in the country today, there was no worry, no apprehension for the future, no gloom and doom over the conflicts east, west, and internally.  There was peace.  Church of God congregations stretch from the population centers of Alexandria and Cairo down into villages in Upper (southern) Egypt, villages like those mourning the loss of 21 of their own.  All of them are reporting that things are well.  We filmed this brief video update as a way to encourage our friends and supporters in the West to see and hear that peace, and to know how to pray for the opportunity in witnessing the peace and hope of Jesus Christ our Savior, in in a time like this.

Egypt Update 2015_02_16 from Ken Keli Oldham on Vimeo.

As always, if you have specific questions about the ministries we are serving here in the Middle East, feel free to contact us.  We are blessed to be among such strong, wonderful believers and to learn from them, as well as to live in this land of history and centrality to the Biblical narrative; our faith continues to grow here, and we count it a blessing to call Egypt home.

Thanks for your continuing interest, thoughts, prayers, and encouragement.

#PrayForEgypt

Smart, Brave, Crazy?

The view of earth (top) from Mars Rover; image found on
on this link.

I know that I've commented on this story before, whether on social media or in conversations with friends.  It's the story of Mars One, an "interplanetary nonprofit" who asked for volunteers who were willing to make a ONE WAY trip to Mars, to be the first human "settlers" there.  Apparently, more than 200,000 people applied.

They're down to 660 finalists.  Four seats are all that's available for a launch into history...

Sounds a little too sci-fy for you?

There wouldn't need to be any cryogenic sleep chambers; the projections are that it would be a nine-month trip.  In about the time of a school year, you would leave friends, family, community, country, continent, Starbucks and Sears Roebuck behind for ever, landing on another planet, and begin attempting to put down "roots" with three other individuals for the rest of your days.

Sound a little crazy?

Walker Lamond wrote this article stating that as he had a chance to speak to a few of those 660 finalists, he learned that "they are all really smart, incredibly brave, and a little bit crazy."

As I commented on social media when I first heard of this story in the last year: if you add faith to that crazy, you have the makings of an international minister!

I know that we had family members and friends who thought we were a little bit crazy (maybe not smart and brave).  I often joke when I tell our story that a part of the year long evaluation process was a psych exam to determine if we were the right kind or wrong kind of crazy.  I know that people really thought we were crazy when a couple days after our official appointment to live in Egypt, the January 2011 Revolution began with millions of people filling Tahrir Square.

But I know that predecessors through the ages were far more crazy than we.  We didn't leave Starbucks--we get it quite regularly; we didn't leave McDonald's, we just moved to where McD's delivers.  We have internet, Skype, instant messaging, MagicJack phone lines, and all sorts of other means of communication.  It didn't take us months to arrive, only hours.  All of our predecessors left family and friends, and the familiar, with months or more than a year between correspondence.  Their's were often true one-way tickets: with family members often dying on the way or soon after arrival to their new environments, our predecessors in international ministry service often purchased coffins to use as their shipping containers.

Mr. Lamond and the folks at Stateless Media who made the video embedded below are a little obsessed with the "no-sex" side of this leap into space, so that's why I give this...

...WARNING, the following video clip has "mature" themes and language and may not be suitable for younger audiences; also note that the views, opinions, and thought-processes of the producers, directors, or those interviewed are not necessarily those of our family, 3W, Church of God Ministries, or any supporting individual or church.

Disclaimers aside, this video is fascinating to me and worth discussion on many levels, which I'll list below--it's why I am revisiting this story and writing about it here!

If you've watched, let's discuss...

Intro (thru 1:05) - Significance and purpose - we all want to know that we matter, that our lives meant something.  These people all represent different types of motivations, but I bet at their core, they all 660 individuals have a desire for significance.

Are you (and if so, how are you) striving for significance in your own life?

Meet Ryan, UK (1:08 - 2:45) - Legacy - "I think the most important thing to do in life is to leave a legacy."  

Do you agree or not? 

How would you define "legacy"?   

How would you define an "important...legacy"? (For example, Hitler and Stalin definitely have legacies, but is this the type of legacy to which anyone should aspire?)

Ryan aspirations include to "inspire a new generation," and "the beginnings of a first civilization on another planet."  What are your legacy aspirations?

Meet Dina, USA (2:46 - 3:56) - Saying Goodbye - having said goodbye to the country and culture of her origin, and her family as a result, Dina doesn't think that this will be that hard.

What makes saying goodbye difficult?  What makes it easy?

Dina says, "I do not feel like I need a family to survive or exist."  What about you?  What makes a family, a family?  What makes these relationships important, necessary to exist? What parts of your family experience can you do without?

Meet Jeremias, Mozambique (3:58 - 4:40) - Starting Over - "I think this world is not a good place to live anymore; we have so many diseases, so many army conflicts, natural disaster, we have inequities, we have so many problems that I believe it's not possible to solve.  I would like to see a better world, comparing to this one, and I think a good way to solve those problems is to start from the beginning."

Genesis 6:5-8, "The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.  The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."

Starting over is not a new idea; it repeats itself in individual lives broken by events that lead them to run away, break up or divorce relationships, perhaps even attempt suicide; within societies, revolutions are the collective desire by many to start over.  

What do you wish you could just start over?  

A lot of people may say that starting over is easier than trying to fix what is broken; but what hidden "costs" might there be to starting over?  What is common requirements are there to "fixing" that which is broken?

Jeremias' family (4:40 - 5:05) - Family Left Behind - either his father, or grandfather says, "For those who stay here on Earth, it will be as though this person has died.  For us, this person doesn't exist.  ...He goes there because it is God's mission.  It is humanity's mission."

We have often felt that it was easier for us to go than for our families and friends who we had to leave behind.  For us, there was purpose in leaving, but can you imagine what holes that leaves with family and friends, in those left behind? 

Those who leave for international (or in this case, intergalactic) service need support, but so do the families who are left behind.  What type of support do they need and how might you be able to provide it?

Ryan's fatherlessness (5:06 - 7:11) - Abandonment? - This is an emotionally deep and difficult part of the video, with so many layers of vulnerability and feeling.  There's Ryan's straightforward portrayal of his biological father's "conscious decision not to care for" himself and his sister.  There's the obvious emotional connection between Ryan and his sister, as well as with his grandparents, and with a grandfather still wrestling with the possibility of his grandson leaving forever.

Ryan confesses that a lot of the traumatic parts of his life are from people "abandoning him".  A part from physically leaving someone, how else might someone feel "abandoned" by us?   

I think this is an important question for discussion and reflection as we are called to be this loving family as the Body of Christ; yet the growing testimony of many people outside of the Church in western cultures (whether believing in Jesus or not) is a feeling of being unwanted and uncared for by the Church-- sadly, those who are to be known by the very sacrificial love of Jesus Himself.  Diagnosing how we abandon others, repenting of it, and making proactive steps to prevent it in the future are necessary.

Dina's thoughts on love  (7:12 - 7:29) - What is love? - Dina says, "I think that love is a word that refers to an emotional need.  I have never felt [it] and I don't think that I believe in it.  I believe that nobody has this type of emotional effect on me.  Love is not something that I need."

How do you define love?

Is it necessary, why or why not? 

Jeremias' thoughts on falling in love (7:30 - 7:58) - Love Problems - Jeremias says, "If I fall in love before I go to Mars, I will have a terrible problem to deal with that."

Paul says, "Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do" (1 Corinthians 7:8).

What complications do romantic love (even marriage) have to fulfilling an extreme call of service?  What advantages does it have?

Final thoughts (7:59 to the end) - Crazy, Death, and Success - Interviewer asks all a final question, "Let me offer the following thought, and I want you to comment on this.  I think the Mars One mission is a great and noble idea.  But there is a contradiction.  The only people who could go on that spaceship, who could commit to going to Mars forever, have to be somehow crazy.  True or untrue?"

To which Dina replies, "Define crazy?"   

• Well, what is "crazy" for you--how would you define it? 

• The British pop artist Seal released the song "Crazy" in 1991 with the chorus, "No we're never gonna to survive unless we are a little crazy." 

• I have always liked this song because I think that the call of God on each of our lives leads us beyond our comfort and into some definition of crazy to those around us so that we might fulfill a grander purpose, and, in the end, also find that significance to which we have been searching, even longing.

Jeremias declares that, "I'm not afraid of dead.  I'm afraid of something in this life, but no, I'm not afraid of dead.  We're all going to dead."  

• Are you afraid of dying?  Why or why not?  How does this fear (or lack of) shape your life, your choices, your future?

Ryan, imagining he faces some horrific end, states that if he can look back and know that what he did (not how he dies) mattered, then "in the end it does make it worthwhile to me."

• How do you measure success for your life?  

•  Reflect and Respond: "What you risk reveals what you value." - Jeanette Winterson

Dina says, "You're going to die, whether here or there, it doesn't really matter.  Why you are going to die is what matters for me."

• Reflect and respond: "Our lives are written in risk: those we take, and those we don't." - John Maxwell 

Well, that's just some of my thoughts from watching this a couple times.  What are your thoughts and takeaways from this developing story and/or video?

Lebanon Teen Discipleship with Greg

Last week, Ken was joined in Lebanon by Dr. Greg Kendall, who is the Senior Pastor of one of our support congregations (1st Church of God, Fresno, California).  Greg helped us by teaching an overview of the Scripture to the teens we began to intentionally disciple in partnership with the national leadership there.

Greg Kendall answering specific questions asked by a group
in the teen discipleship program.

The week was great--on so many levels.  We are so thrilled to have such awesome partners, and even more excited to have things opening up of greater partnership opportunities on this side of the world. The Fresno congregation generously supplied all the materials, which were exciting to everyone who began to process the "big picture" of God's redemptive plan.  And I really enjoyed getting to personally connect through the week with Greg.

Lebanon Teen Discipleship, First Class, Session Two

Greg also got to many many of the Ana Terzo young adult ministry.  He was really encouraged to see the dedication of service to the larger Church, their passion for the Lord, the sincerity of their faith, and the potential they have to reach their generation.

Greg got a brief introduction to the Heart for Lebanon staff and an an overview of their diverse and impressive ministries.  Through this encounter and his interaction with the people in Lebanon, he was able to learn so much about the impact of so many refugees within the tiny country's borders.

Greg couldn't help but get caught up in the "Terzo Spirit"

Greg asked a lot of questions through his stay about the war, it's beginnings, it's combatants, and it's outcomes.  He was also processing how that has impacted the Church, and how neighboring conflicts keep those effects still fresh within the hearts and soul of the people there.

Greg preached in one of the congregations, as well as spent an evening interacting with several pastors and ministry leaders.  In both of these contexts, he spoke about becoming the missional Church; not a new way of doing church programs, but in being the Church.  Everyone was inspired by what he had to share.

During the visit, I conducted one of our three-question interviews with Greg.  Here's the video which is mostly Greg sharing his impressions of the visit, as well as the impact it had on him. (I'll admit, I wrestled a lot with the sound quality on this one--I underestimated the hum of a nearby refrigerated display.  Lesson learned for next time, and I hope we can invest in a better mic to help produce better videos.)  We are looking forward to having Greg, Fresno 1st Church, and others participating in ministry opportunities more in the future.

Greg Interview from Ken Keli Oldham on Vimeo.

Thank you for your support and prayers for us.  If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to get in touch with us.

On Being Christian and Being Charlie???

This is not intended to be a rant, nor a condemnation, nor a political statement; I am not even attempting to make some theological argument, though it is based upon the way I am understanding faith and life.  I am not attempting to belittle the suffering of the friends and families of the Charlie Hebdo victims, or any victims of terrorist action; nor am I attempting to criticize the publication Charlie Hebdo or any satirical work.

This is me, as a Christian, living and serving internationally, wrestling with questions of terrorism, faith, freedom, responsibility and more.  I am not asking that you agree with me, and if you disagree please don't be disagreeable, but I am willing to dialogue about it.  I don't have the answers and I'm writing in hopes of bringing clarity to my own process while tossing out the questions that some of you may have also been wrestling within your minds and social circles.

The terrorist activity in France last week, targeting the satirical publication Charlie Hebdo, was by

every definition a tragedy.  The perpetrators of the act of walking into a workplace with the intent of ending even just one life is without excuse.  The act of killing a wounded officer on the ground at point blank range is sickening.

It is ironic that a publication that holds nothing sacred is being elevated to martyrdom.  The article that ran in Al Jazeera English, Let's Not Sacralize Charlie Hebdo, is correct--it is a publication that takes aim at the sacred (of all religious and belief persuasions) and all absolutes.  And modern, western civilization has been holding up the "Je Suis Charlie" hashtags, placards, and tee shirts as the new WWJD bracelet.

And that's where my questions started getting raised.  I want to stand in solidarity with France--and with Nigeria whose own latest devastation at the hands of militant Islamic-based terrorists (Boko Haram) is titanic in proportion--these terrorist acts are an insult to all faiths.  I want to stand up for free speech--just as I want to stand for freedom of religion--even if the speech or religious belief that is chosen is counter to my own.

But I believe that freedom of faith and freedom of expression also come with responsibility, namely to not be dismissive, deriding, demonizing or destructive to the faith and expressions of others.

And this is the catch-22 of our era--the challenge of living in interfaith communities or just in the same world in the internet age--our various faiths or degrees of faith (or lack) come into conflict with one another from the prayers offered at public gatherings, to public memorials and displays, to publications, to social media posts, to...

"Je Suis Charlie" may be a rallying cry of solidarity, but what are we saying by jumping on the bandwagon?  That I agree with the guy who draws a picture knowing that it will intentionally offend and belittle the belief of millions?  That I agree with an article that mocks a culture and race of individuals whom I hardly know but will perpetuate stereotypes and prejudice?

I know that "Je Suis Charlie" arose out of good intentions.  But good intentions can also hurt people.

And with that in mind, I have to say, "Je ne suis pas Charlie."

-------------------------------

A few years ago, frontman Marcus Mumford of the band "Mumford and Sons" did an interview for Rolling Stone magazine.  Marcus' parents were leaders of a Vineyard church in Australia, and many noted the spiritual themes and lyrics within the bands music.  In the interview, Marcus is asked if he considered himself a Christian, and his answer really outraged the Christian community because he said,

"I don't really like that word," he says. "It comes with so much baggage. So, no, I wouldn't call myself a Christian. I think the word just conjures up all these religious images that I don't really like. I have my personal views about the person of Jesus and who he was. Like, you ask a Muslim and they'll say, 'Jesus was awesome' – they're not Christians, but they still love Jesus. I've kind of separated myself from the culture of Christianity."

The Christian community labeled Marcus a "sell out," "ashamed of Jesus," and all sorts of accusations.  I don't think that Marcus (and countless young adults) was necessarily ashamed of Jesus--and I'm not trying to label him a Christian--but, as he said, ashamed of the Christian community that goes with that label.  

Why do I bring this up while writing about Charlie Hebdo?

I have two related thoughts:

First, I think that many have jumped on the intention of demonstrating solidarity with France without fully thinking about what the statement "Je Suis Charlie Hebdo" may also imply.  I similarly see so many "Christian" or conservative publications and articles that have a good/catchy headline, or main idea, or notable author,  but upon further examination, the rest of the content is narrow-minded, mean-spirited, full of stereotype and prejudice, or even just ignorant--yet it gets forwarded, re-posted, or shared through social media, often because a friend we know had done the same.  By such careless, thoughtless activity we create the "Christian" prejudice & stereotypes that are getting in the way of the young, marginalized, outcast, searching, atheist, agnostic, Hindi, Muslim, Buddhist, or others--they can't see the Christ, without stumbling through the walls of our "Christian" stuff.  (By the way, love him or choose to pile on him, I agree with Rob Bell's thought that "Christian" makes a poor adjective; see his book Velvet Elvis.)

Secondly, because the Charlie Hebdo situation also has to do with the terror inflicted by militant Islamist-based faith, I see/read politicians, western media, & social media users bashing, stereotyping, and increasing prejudice toward Muslims and those from Middle Eastern cultures; sadder still is that many are doing so in the name of Jesus.  And while they have climbed on the back of the One who bore the sins of all humanity (who came not to condemn the world but save it), they simultaneously take the whips, mocking, spitting and change the shouts of "crucify" with modern "crusade" against Muslim and Middle Eastern people.  As one person from a western culture, representing and attempting to serve in Jesus name in the Middle East, I am often embarrassed and sometimes ashamed at what I see/hear reported, reposted, or retweeted.  I know that some Muslims have intentionally declared war and take to violent, destructive action against Christians and western culture--and I am not a pacifist and believe in defending ourselves and fighting against evil men--but I do not think that Christians ought to be taking up the speech nor the digital words and images as weapons and inflict the same sort of barbarian, vindictive action upon the reputations of millions whom you do not know or understand.  Such talk/posts create and foster enmity, not understanding and any chance for a better tomorrow.

I recently read this Muslim publication that reported on a unique document held at the oldest monastery in the world, St. Catherine's at the base of the Sinai Mountain in the heart of the Middle East.  Surrounded by an ever increasing Islamic region, the leaders of St Catherine's sent a delegation to the Prophet Muhammed, founder of Islam, to request protection in 628 AD.  Muhammed responded graciously, and his response remains at St. Catherine's to this day--it reads...

The Promise to St. Catherine: “This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”

Like me, I bet few from my country of origin, or within my faith movement, have ever heard/read that; yet, we so quickly forward hatred or fear in defense of Jesus.  How much could we learn if we would be willing to listen to one another?  How much could be healed if we heeded the instructions of the ones we claim to follow?  We'll never really know because we rarely get started nor stay on such roads.

From Colossians 4:5-6

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

If "salt" is "truth which prevents moral decay and leads to holiness," then I think that our well-intentioned posts, forwards, and all the religious talking heads get this in reverse--they're heavy on the salt with (at best) a side of grace.  Salt as seasoning is to create thirst and bring out the flavors of what is being seasoned.  So little grace is being served in our conversations today, and especially in response to atrocities like at the offices of Charlie Hebdo last week.  

Finally, we need to spend some time on this verse and Ephesians 4:19 and any other Scripture referencing our words (whether written or spoken) and find some application as it relates to the digital age in which we find ourselves.  We've jumped into a world wide web of confusion and darkness, and we're doing little to adequately bring the light and love of Jesus Christ into it.  I fear we have installed the apps and instilled additional confusion and barriers.  


So there it is--my thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears, wondering and maybe even wandering.  We're living in a complex world that is ever in closer proximity to one another, yet we haven't discovered how to be neighbors.   We have the tools that could foster dialogue and fuel understanding, and instead we use these tools like simpletons who simply perpetuate the cycles of fear and hate.  You may have your own thoughts and questions--mine may have really disturbed you and you want to dialogue, even to correct me--post a comment, send an email, pick up the phone, schedule a Skype or day at Starbucks.  I'm willing to hear as well as be heard; I'm willing to walk with you to a deeper, different expression of faith than that of the "Christian culture"--I want to find the heart of Jesus for the world in which we live, and if you want that too, let's start the conversation...

Fresno 1st Sends Pastor Greg to Beirut

Dr. Greg Kendall will be joining me (Ken) in Beirut this Thursday.  Greg is the Senior Pastor at Fresno (CA) 1st Church of God, one of our great network of supporting churches.  I got to know Greg and his wife Becky this summer during our home assignment, and in the process, I knew he had some great experience and passions that would benefit the 3W region.  I was really hopeful, and now really grateful, that he would be able to assist us in providing some teaching for the newly created Teen Discipleship program, which was launched last fall.

Nabil Melki

Pastor Joy Mallouh

The Teen Discipleship program is a partnership between Three Worlds with the Church of God in Lebanon, created with national leader Pastor Joy Mallouh.  The program is designed with eight sessions offered quarterly over two years, with the hope that a new class will begin every fall; the summer session can be longer in a camp format, while the other three sessions will be weekend retreat events.  The two year Discipleship program can be followed up with a similar two year Leadership Development plan; the goal is that we will create a leadership development culture in Lebanon through this ongoing process.  Each quarterly session will offer leaders from within and beyond Lebanon speaking into the lives of the participants, and is aided by the commitment and example of young adults who also participate as mentors to the teens.

In November, we were able to begin with a group of 12 older teens representing several of the Lebanon congregations.  During the weekend, we focused on Worship and Prayer.  We began with Nabil Melki speaking about the differences, as well as pros and cons of corporate versus personal worship.  Pastor Joy Mallouh shared a session on a Biblical understanding of worship to end the first night, before we spent the remainder of the evening socializing over games, snacks, and music.

games with the teens

The next morning began with group discussions on the worship presentations.  The groups were led by the young adults, and focused on these questions:
1.  What new understanding did you gain about worship?
2.  How will this lead you to worship differently in the future?
3.  What remaining question(s) do you have regarding worship?

Issa leads large group feedback

We gathered together to share and discuss these as a large group before going on to prayer.  Pastor Nabil Melik of the Sioufi Church of God came to share some Biblical understanding of prayer, and I completed the sessions with a presentation on prayer strategies and patterns, beginning with the Lord's Prayer.  A similar small group discussion time was incorporated to conclude this first weekend.  The participants rated the experience very favorably and that gives us a lot of encouragement heading into this next weekend.

Pastor Nabil Melki

Greg will lead the sessions over this next weekend using materials designed to help the students have an overview of the Scripture.  The sessions will be based on workbooks and an expandable timeline that 1st Church Fresno has generously purchased for the program.  We are excited about this partnership!

On Saturday evening, I will be able to introduce Greg to the Ana Terzo young adult ministry in their weekly Bible study.  On Sunday morning, Greg will preach with Pastor Joy translating at the Mar Mitr Church of God congregation in Beirut.  On Monday, Greg and I will spend time with the Heart for Lebanon staff.  And either Monday or Tuesday, Greg will have a chance to dialogue with the Lebanon Church of God pastors on the challenges of leading congregations out of program driven models into more missional approaches of ministry.

Pray for Greg as he travels, and pray for the opportunities for mutual encouragement and faith development.

It will be a busy, and full week, and I am excited about all of it.  I am especially excited to spend the time with Greg in our region.  We are looking forward to several partnership opportunities that are being planned for 2015, and we are hopeful that we some of this will include partnership within Egypt.  You can follow us on Twitter @ok2serve or on Facebook (Oldham ThreeWorlds) to see pictures and updates about Greg's visit this next week.