Easter is close and many of us may be walking into Holy Week with shadows of suffering or loss or even ambiguous feelings of grief. Wherever you presently are spiritually, emotionally, holistically, we’d like to offer this blog of encouragement by one of our field staff in Boston. Taylor beautifully reminds us that even in our days of sorrow, there is One who meets us in solidarity while providing us with a telos of the hope. |
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In this issue: - Ministering in the Present Movement: Digital Camino
- Discipleship: Life Together In Proximity - THREE KEY RESOURCES
- Opportunity: URBANA 25
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Ministering in the Present Moment:
Digital Camino for all Church Leaders |
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A new webinar is coming later this fall, but for now we’d like to encourage any and all of you to join us for our second Digital Camino. |
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 InterVarsity’s Church Resources and Study Abroad care about you and want to INVITE YOU on a special community experience this summer. With the low cost of $25, you’ll have an opportunity to journey where you are but with community - others all over the nation including some of our InterVarsity staff. Take this pilgrimage as a retreat with your fellow ministry leaders (pastors, missionaries, educators, small group volunteers, etc.). eager to encounter God’s Spirit. On this Digital Camino, you can expect experiencing five audio-guided walks on our app, but done within your own neighborhood. All five of these are accompanied by times of reflections and insights. We’ll also host three simple gatherings of fun and connection over our “Zoom Hostel” with fellow peregrinos Specific dates and details coming after Easter but don’t hesitate to share this with others. For now take a moment to reserve your spot through the registration link below. Sign up by May 1 and get $5 discount (use code 5off). |
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Discipleship: Life Together in Proximity |
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The world needs to see the people of God be known for their love. To see such a people, we must be willing to live, learn, and love in proximity, especially with the marginalized. Being a people who are christ-centerd and other-focused won’t happen by accident, however, it takes intentionality. Walking with Christ and others, in Life together is more than merely co-existing, it’s living in proximity, but a proximity that changes each of us for the better. We are called to be a people of God who weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Therefore, let’s grow together in the ordinary days with the extraordinary love of Christ binding us one to another.
Below are a three resources we recommend to help all ages in our journeys of diverse life together. |
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1.) Power of Proximity Moving Beyond Awareness to Action by Michelle Ferrigno Warren
Forward by Noel Castellanos |
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We can see evidence of injustice all around us, and so it’s important to learn about the world's inequities and to be a voice for the voiceless any way we can. But in an age of hashtag and armchair activism, merely raising awareness about injustice is not enough.
 Michelle Warren knows what is needed. She and her family have chosen to live in communities where they are "proximate to the pain of the poor." This makes all the difference in facing and overcoming injustice. When we build relationships where we live, we discover the complexities of standing with the vulnerable and the commitment needed for long-term change. Proximity changes our perspective, compels our response, and keeps us committed to the journey of pursuing justice for all. Move beyond awareness and experience the power of proximity.
How proximate are you to the poor?
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2.) We all belong in God's FamilyDisabling Leadership A Practical Theology for the Broken Body of Christ by Andrew T. Draper, Jody Michele, and Andrea Mae |
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People with disabilities are often excluded from full participation in church communities. Accessibility is a key component of the biblical ministry of reconciliation—but it's not enough. To truly work toward reconciliation, churches must both consider the theological implications of disability and also become places where people with disabilities lead.
 Disabling Leadership presents a practical theology of disability for thoughtful church leaders and congregants. Written by practitioners and a scholar-pastor who are engaged in ministry together, this book encompasses cutting-edge theological ethics as well as stories of how such commitments are embodied in a real church community. The authors equip readers to explore key themes such as:
what it means to be human how to understand suffering and healing how churches can be welcoming and accessible communities how to face common challenges and issues in resisting ableism
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3.) When I Go to Church, I BelongFinding My Place in God's Family as a Child with Special Needs by Elrena Evans
Illustrated by Rebecca Evans |
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Help Children Learn that Everyone Has a Place in God's Family Church is a place where everyone should feel welcome—but not every child experiences it the same way. When I Go to Church, I Belong is a beautifully illustrated story crafted for children with disabilities and for everyone who desires their churches to be places of welcome and belonging. Through the experiences of six children with special needs, author Elrena Evans invites readers to see through new perspectives and understand the beauty of diversity within God’s family. This heartfelt book is a celebration of inclusion, reminding us th at while we all have our differences, we also share so much in common. With tender illustrations by Rebecca Evans and a thoughtful note from the author, this storybook opens conversations about what it means to belong. Help teach children about the beauty of diversity and the joy of shared experiences in their walk with God. |
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 Click the button below to Receive 40% off on these books and more.
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Diane arrived at Urbana 79 with her own dreams and a mapped-out life. But as Pastor Billy Graham challenged the audience that night to “give God a blank page with your signature at the bottom,” she felt God asking her to let go of her plans and trust Him.
That “yes” changed everything.
It led her to 20 years of youth ministry in Wisconsin, pouring into high school students hungry for the gospel. But God wasn’t finished. Diane’s journey expanded to remote communities in Uganda, India, and Pakistan, where she witnessed lives transformed by the gospel.
Reflecting on that night, Diane says, “Urbana set me on a path of lifelong obedience – beyond my wildest dreams.”
Whether it’s a few friends, students from a campus near or far, or your church’s entire college and young adult ministry, this is an opportunity for them AND YOU! This is the perfect time to walk with this next gen in an intentional and vulnerable way. Come and let’s have God keep working on each of us, and all of us, together.
Here’s a free kit, just for you, to figure out all you need to know about bringing a group to Urbana. |
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Grace & Peace,
Tim Whetstone-Espada
National Director of Church Engagement (& Resources)
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