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53 Weeks of Abundant Gratitude
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GRATITUDE
As part of our expressions of gratitude, we are focusing on one segment
of the Iliff community each month. In May, we are appreciating the Business Office team
. Our sincere thanks to you for your continued work that helps to keep the Iliff community vibrant.
"God works with what is. God uses whatever
is usable in a life, both to speak and to act, and those who insist on fireworks in the sky may miss the electricity that sparks the human heart."
Mollie Ronge, MDiv '13
Chaplain
Good Samaritan Center
Sioux Falls, SD
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
: Shepherding Via Cyberspace (Part II)
In Part I of "Shepherding Via Cyberspace,"
Elizabeth Jackson,
MDiv '11, shared about
In the World,
a ministry she leads. She explained that although a visitor's initial contact with In the World may begin on Facebook or Twitter, it can lead to a face-to-face ministry encounter.
In Part II we are focusing the spotlight on another virtual space minister pioneer,
Jah Rain, MDiv '14. Jah is the founder of
OMO House. OMO stands for
Out of Many One. She describes OMO House as a "community chaplaincy" where people are "willing to have the uncomfortable but necessary conversations addressing trauma, race, addiction, gender, sexuality, human development, etc."
How does OMO House meet as a community?
Jah makes weekly audio sermon posts on Facebook and the global Facebook community is invited to respond.
How is a primarily online community transformational or effective?
Jah says, "my ministry seems to somehow have the ability to talk about things that are very difficult for most people to talk about... especially churches. There are a number of white listeners who consider themselves to be allies, they often connect with me and share that because of a certain message they have begun to move differently in the world, or they have been able to have very difficult conversations with their family members around privilege. Often times they just place the message on their page which then inspires a conversation that they were unable to generate on their own."
How is addiction addressed in an online setting?
Jah is intentional in dealing with addiction and co occurring disorders in her sermons and conversations. She says, "after listening to one of my sermons teaching that addiction is a disease, a particular listener was able to lovingly talk with a family member about their depression, which they had been afraid to do before." Jah adds, "the listener responded that she now had the 'words, tools and a different level of compassion' because of the message."
Have any youth been reached by OMO House?
Jah says, "I've had a number of young people say that some of the relationship guidance that I've talked about was never received in their homes."
What makes OMO House unique?
"I suppose what makes this ministry different is that it's a mixture of life coaching, spiritual guidance and pastoral counseling. It's interfaith in nature, African-centered and indigenous, with Christ sitting squarely in the center," Jah told us.
What is it about the online atmosphere that makes people more willing to engage in this conversation? What is cyberspace providing that the local, brick and mortar church is not?
Jah says, "I think a number of things. One of the things that I noticed is that the majority of listeners tune in on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday... So there's the convenience factor. I've actually had some people inbox me and say stuff like I'm halfway through the message but I have a question... So there's the potential for interactivity. When I first began I had this one listener who always had extensive commentary (actually building upon the theology) so I think that people believe that they have the option to participate in a way that they might not with a church which sort of builds on my last response but it's sort of different---and that each listener becomes an expert. This may not happen in church. I also think that there is a sense of safety because people are in the privacy of their homes and cars, so if I say something they disagree with, they can vocalize that into the ethers and no one is upset. Also, I've noticed the people listening have a diversity that I don't know if I could find in one city. It's almost as if I'm getting similar like-minded people but they come from different places. Lastly I think that many people believe that their eyes, their face, their body language displays a lot and so that's an added factor of safety when you're listening from your home. Whether you're angry, anxious, or concerned, there is no one there to judge you but you.
Find more OMO House details
here.
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ALUMNI HONORS
Conrad "Con" Pyle, ThM '54, may have retired from being a minister at First Congregational Church and a chaplain with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center but he is still bringing light and love wherever he goes.
Read The Daily Sentinel article featuring his actions, here
***
Paul Kottke, MDiv ' is the 2016 Centus Samaritan Honoree.
"This award is given each year to a remarkable individual who has given without hesitation and built community that changes the lives of others."
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REGISTER! Upcoming Events
Portland, OR Alumni RE-Membering
May 17, 2016
Salt Lake City, UT Alumni RE-Membering
June 8, 2016
Shreveport, LA Alumni Dinner
After Clergy Session of Louisiana Conference of United Methodists
June 8, 2016
Ristorante Giuseppe
4800 Line Avenue, Shreveport
Send $40.00/person in advance to
Rev. Warren Clifton, Iliff '13
34248 Springlake Drive Walker, LA 70785
Westminster, CO Alumni Luncheon
Rocky Mountain Annual Conference of the UMC
June 10, 2016
One of Iliff's newest faculty members,
Michele Watkins-Branch
, will present a mini-lecture.
President Wolfe
will give an update on the state of Iliff. Register for Annual Conference and lunch
here
.
ASCEND program in spiritually integrated care
Aug 15-19
Alumni can earn 31.5 CE hours for $925 with promo code ALUMNI
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Contact: Caran Ware Joseph, Donor and Alumni Relations Director
cwarejoseph@iliff.edu, 303-765-3111
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