This week I’m at a gathering for the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City at the Interchurch Center. Pastors and church members from all across the annual conferences in the United States are here learning about United Methodist missionaries, young adult service opportunities, disaster response, United Methodist Committee on Relief, Global Initiatives in Nepal, Senegal, Thailand, Vietnam, Cameroon (and so many other places). After saying all that, I’m thinking a lot about Belmont Wesley and a mission initiative that would begin in 2013 and continue for several years…Human trafficking? Child labor? Modern slavery? Orphan empowerment? Child soldiers? I want to hear from you about the things that break your heart and burn in your spirit! Have you ever wondered, is the work of churches and campus ministries REALLY changing lives? Are communities becoming healthier, safer, and more peaceful because of the work of Christians? Does all the money and

  Looking Forward to Fall 2013 As the semester wraps up, Belmont Wesley Fellowship is looking forward to the Fall 2013 semester. With fall planning underway, we’re interested in hearing from YOU! What days and times on your class/work schedule work best to join BWF for worship and fellowship? Let us know here!  (The survey dates are for one week in August but your answers will help determine the weekly day and time to meet).    

In 2012, a new vital ministry came to the Tennessee Annual Conference through the excellent leadership and vision of young adult, Courtney Aldrich. Project Transformation Tennessee is an amazing ministry that is changing the lives of young adults and underserved children through a summer day camp experience. For eight weeks each summer, young adult interns lead a reading camp for children and youth at Nashville area United Methodist Churches. Last year, Morgan Stafford, a Belmont University student (Class of 2013) served as a Project Transformation intern in PT’s first year in Tennessee. Morgan came back from his time with Project Transformation changed! As Morgan’s campus minister and a huge advocate of Project Transformation, I was thrilled to see a program that was cultivating young people for service and leadership and changing the lives of all involved. Since the completion of Morgan’s first Project Transformation internship in 2012, he has provided leadership to Belmont Wesley

So on Monday morning when I posted a reflection covering the prevalence of sexual assault against young people, I had no idea how quickly the global issue would arise with the suicide of a rape victim. Rehtaeh Parsons. That’s the name of a young person in Canada who was gang raped by four schoolmates. Pictures of the assault were captured on a cell phone and then the distribution went viral around her school and community. Her mother recalls the experience of social media in the wake of the assault: “People texted her all the time, saying ‘Will you have sex with me?’” she remembered. “Girls texting, saying ‘You’re such a slut.’” On March 4th, Rehtaeh hung herself in the bathroom. On March 7th, her family took her off of life support. She was failed by law enforcement who never pressed charges. She was failed by a school community and classmates

Rape. There I said it so now we can talk about it. Last week I was having coffee with a colleague who is a woman, Jewish, and a community organizer. Our conversation wandered from topic to topic including Poland, the Holocaust, Passover, prayer, United Methodism, politics, justice, legislation, and women’s rights. But as our conversation neared its end, I found myself quite animated (probably more upset) as I pointed out how young people are suffering from the effects of sexual violence. More recently, I’ve encountered quite a few college and youth ministry colleagues writing about rape culture. My case in point was a case of rape in Steubenville, Ohio (for plenty of news coverage just follow the link) where a young female party goer was assaulted by fellow male party goers who played on the local high school’s football team. The devastation and suffering of the victim was surely exacerbated as videos,

It’s Monday morning. In some ways, it feels just like last Monday and the Monday before that. It’s time to go to class. It’s time to go to work. Your roommate ate the rest of your favorite bag of chips. There’s not enough coffee creamer in the fridge to get that first (and now only cup of coffee) just right to get the day started. And the dishes, the dishes are still stacked in the sink from the weekend and nobody wants to do them. Yesterday was so much better and now it seems gone until next year… People seemed nicer yesterday, maybe a little bit of an Easter kick in their step. Then again maybe they were just excited about a new dress or breaking out the bowtie for church. Sunday service at church was a bit more lively-the preacher was preaching like his life depended on it and

What’s the cash value of Easter, the resurrection, and the empty grave? Besides getting new Easter clothes and a day often filled with great cooking and huge meals, why does Easter matter? On Monday night in Bible study, the question about the practical value of Easter emerged. How do you live differently because of what God first did on Easter morning? After we spent quite a bit of time in Stations of the Cross, traversing almost all of the Holy Week scripture texts, a student noted on how heavy this week is. YES. Absolutely. Jesus says goodbye to his closet disciples. Jesus is betrayed (by a close friend). Jesus is physically (and surely emotionally and psychologically )tortured, cross examined, and then unjustly punished to death. Without Easter, Holy Week feels like a huge downer. Following the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) to washing his disciples’ feet (Maundy Thursday)

  Jesus in Jerusalem: Via Dolorosa  ‘Way of Suffering‘ Holy Week Bible Study Tonight! March 25, 7pm in McWhorter 408 This week in the Christian calendar remembers and celebrates Jesus’ life and death with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Tonight, we’ll look at scriptures that narrate Jesus’ last week of life-particularly looking at the Stations of the Cross. Got questions about Jesus’ trial and crucifixion? Check out BWF’s recap on the crucifixion.  

On Monday night, the topic of discussion was an early look at Luke 23 which tells the story of Jesus’ arrest, questioning before Pilate and Herod, and crucifixion. Yes, Holy Week is still a few days off but looking at the texts is always a good idea before Sunday (Thursday or Friday) service arrives. Students encouraged one another to lift up questions about the arrest, trial, and crucifixion that they never had the chance to ask in church or questions they were sure weren’t going to be addressed in any Sunday morning sermon. Crucified Christ in Catholic Church in Puebla, Mexico One hour later: (Thanks be to God for the curiosity and courage to ask!) 1. Why are there textual variations between the gospels? (Why does the story in Luke look different than Matthew and John?). 2. Does Jesus have to die? 3. Why doesn’t Jesus save himself? 4. How

  Jesus on Trial-Death Penalty? Come, Join Us! Worship and Bible Study “No matter where you have come from or where you are going, No matter what you believe or doubt, No matter what you are feeling or not feeling, No matter what you have or don’t have, And no matter whom you love, All of you are welcomed into this community of faith by a God who knows you by name.” Bible Study Tonight! 7pm in McWhorter 408 With Holy Week and Easter coming quickly, we’re going to take a look at Luke 23, where Jesus goes to trial. What if Pilate and Herod let him go, an innocent man? Did Jesus HAVE to die for God to love us? Join us to talk through these questions and more. For more, check out Pastor Adam’s reflection.