UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

Pentecostal Tabernacle’s Honduras Benefit Concert

Join us for an evening of music as we celebrate God’s love for the world at our Honduras Benefit Concert! For the past six years, Pentecostal Tabernacle has partnered with World Resources Group (WRG), to send a missions team to Honduras to work with mentors who have devoted their lives to serving the youth in their communities. These trips have given us the opportunity to build relationships with the children, their families, and the dedicated Honduran mentors who serve them. This year, our missions team will depart for Honduras on July 28th, and proceeds from the concert will benefit their trip. Tickets are $10, and you must purchase one to attend this event.

Date: Saturday, May 4th 2019

Location: Pentecostal Tabernacle North Campus – 77 Columbia Street, Cambridge MA 02139

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Featured Artists: Nicole Schmidt, 7th Degree, Kamva, Caleb McCoy

Tickets: Purchased online at www.ptspice.org

Helping Women Find Freedom and Healing from Trauma

This month, Park Street Church is highlighting some of their members who are living out their faith in their day-to-day lives. Below, we introduce Mary Speta, member of Park Street Church and Development Director at Amirah. (Reprinted with permission)

If you’ve ever met Mary Speta, you might know that she is a self-proclaimed foodie, who loves to sing jazz, tell stories, and who hails from western New York, where they boast a higher cow population than people. She has been around Park Street Church for the last five years and is involved in the Café young adults ministry. 

What you might not know about Mary, is that she is passionate about elevating women and women’s issues both locally and globally. Because of her own story of healing, Mary has a heart for helping other women find freedom and healing from trauma. This led her to a position as the Development Director of Amirah, a multifaceted aftercare organization for survivors of domestic sex trafficking.

Amirah, from the Persian word for “princess,” has a mission to provide refuge to those seeking to break free from exploitation, offering healing in a community setting. Amirah strives to help each survivor recognize her inherent value as a person in the aftermath of being trafficked. Most women being trafficked in New England were actually born and raised here. Traffickers target and take advantage of vulnerable girls and women, often through the lens of “love.” They tell their victims they love them, act like a boyfriend, but then tell them to do this work for a while.

This happened to Jessie. She was in a vulnerable position and along came a guy who paid attention to her, showering her in affection, until one day he asked her to sell her body. This went on for years, and by the time Jessie came to Amirah, she was so mixed up about what love really was. She distrusted everyone — there was no way, in her mind, that she was going to be able to get her life back. But that’s exactly what happened as she moved into Amirah’s residence program. As the months went on, she began to see, through the staff and volunteers, that real love was not exploitive and she connected all this love back to God. One day, she said to her mentor, “I don’t want to be bought and sold anymore.” Her mentor replied, “Jessie, Jesus bought you once, and he will never sell you.” And that day, Jessie believed.

Watch this video below to hear more about Jessie’s journey, the existence of sex trafficking right here in our backyard in Boston, and how Amirah provides refuge for those seeking to break free from exploitation and heal in community on their journey toward lasting hope.

If you are interested in how you might make an impact in the lives of trafficked women in the Boston area, check out Amirah’s website. They need volunteers, as well as financial and prayer partners, in order to sustain this vital ministry.

OTHER GREAT ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
There are other great Christian ministries that are fighting human trafficking here in the Greater Boston area, including:

Route One Ministry, which ministers to women exploited by the sex industry. Through building relationships with the women, they hope to be the light of Christ and provide for physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Bags of Hope Ministries, which provides bags of hope as a practical way to minister to women in the trafficking industry. Anita, a recovery coach and mentor for Bags of Hope recently saw a woman come to faith and baptized because of their ministry. You can read this story here.

Visualizing Racial Justice and Reconciliation

Stephanie Irwin with Civil Rights Activist John Perkins

The theme of the 2019 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “Justice, only justice, you shall pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). In light of this theme, we created this discussion guide around Stephanie Irwin’s artwork to invite local conversation around the ways in which we can contribute to God’s justice in our communities. 

Stephanie lived in the Longwood Christian Community in 2011 to 2014 while training as a physical therapist. This project was inspired by Stephanie’s experience as part of reconciliation workshops in Rwanda, Africa with members of the Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups. It was there that she learned that healing “could only progress by facing the truth and acting upon it.” She created these art pieces seeking to share God’s call for justice and reconciliation with all those around her. Stephanie lives in Seattle now. Her artwork and photography are available at https://www.stephanielynnephoto.com/

We are planning to use the discussion guide below during some of the UniteBoston neighborhood dinners, but it could also be used within a church bible study or community group. When coming together with people from a variety of perspectives, it is always good to set expectations and guidelines for the conversation. Together, let us consider how God is inviting us to contribute to acts of justice and reconciled relationships within our lives and communities.

Note: While Stephanie’s art focuses on relationships between Black and White people, we recognize that racial justice includes people of all races. Additionally, we value Stephanie’s reflections as stated below through her own lens as a Caucasian woman, but we do not seek to universalize her experience or perspective. We felt that this was a valuable lens into one person’s understanding of the process of reconciliation, and hope that you will be inspired as well.

Jesus stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 4:16-21, NIV)

“There is another thing that disturbs me to no end about the American church. You have a white church and you have a Negro church. You have allowed segregation to creep into the doors of the church. How can such a division exist in the true Body of Christ? You must face the tragic fact that when you stand at 11:00 on Sunday morning to sing “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” and “Dear Lord and Father of all Mankind,” you stand in the most segregated hour of Christian America. They tell me that there is more integration in the entertaining world and other secular agencies than there is in the Christian church. How appalling that is.” (Paul’s Letter to American Christians, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama, on 4 November 1956)

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in single garment of destiny.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963)

Stephanie’s Artwork and Reflections

Yokes and Chains

The first piece, titled Yokes and Chains, sets the stage for both the pain of the past that continues to cause separation as well as a hope for abolition of that separation.  When considering the process of arriving at reconciliation the pain cannot be ignored but rather must be confronted. As the two children face each other they reflect on the reality and pain of slavery.  In this moment they bear witness to the fault, pain, consequence and responsibility of the transatlantic slave trade. In response, they express their pain through the shedding of tears. Both their tears reveal remorse for what transpired in the past as well as for the racism and segregation that persists even today.  Though they are separated by a darkness that is fueled by American society, their sorrow also reflects a hope for future change. By first gaining awareness of the truth rather than hiding from it, they choose to be a part of that change.

 

The Call

The second piece in the series is the foundation of the process.  True healing can only progress by facing the truth and acting upon it.  The Call presents this truth as the Word of God. The part of the text in focus reveals Colossians 3:11-14 which reminds us that we are called to be one, that in Christ there is no separation and that we must embrace unity through forgiveness, healing and love.  The silhouette brings to light the need to receive the truth as the two children from the first piece fall to their knees in surrender.

 

The Act

As she drew this picture, Stephanie describes, “My mind rushed back to another day in Rwanda where I saw a light emerge in the darkness through the joining of two men who expected to be lifelong enemies. A Tutsi man forgave the unforgivable of his Hutu neighbor and perpetrator from the 1994 Genocide. As I witnessed them walk hand-in-hand, I was convinced that I had never before seen a more beautiful sight. It was at this point that I acquired a renewed hope of flourishing unity between whites and blacks in America.  Similarly, the two children who were separated by darkness in the first piece are now joined here to create a light as they respond to their call. With fingers interlocked they move forward together determined to never be divided.”

 

Beloved Community

The final piece brings the project and everyone together. The hands depicted in this piece are the hands of real people, including the artist’s, who choose to join with people of all color to stand for racial reconciliation and live in multicultural and multigenerational community. Bordering the hands are the words “united” and “reconciled” in twelve different languages to emphasize the beauty of diversity. The intention of incorporating these languages is to allow anyone to feel as if that they are a part of this piece. The piece is titled Beloved Community in order to portray racial reconciliation as specifically centered around love that is fostered through a community. Additionally, it references the song “Beloved Community” developed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which reflects the vision of all four pieces cumulatively. You are invited to join this beloved community with those building it around you.

Discussion Questions

  1. Describe your initial thoughts or reactions to the scripture passage, quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or Stephanie’s art pieces.
  2. Where have you personally seen racial justice or inequity taking place? What most breaks your heart about this?
  3. Where do you see people sharing in the prophetic mission of Jesus as described in Luke 4? Where is there evidence of the healing, liberating, redeeming power of God in your life or neighborhood? Share a story that comes to mind.
  4. The Bible has continually been a source of inspiration for the Christian community to address conditions that are unjust or undermine human dignity. Where do you see an opportunity for the Church to come together for the cause of racial justice in this neighborhood or community?

Additional Resources:

-Read the Christian Churches Together response to Martin Luther King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail here (2013)

-Check out the Emmanuel Gospel Center’s Race & Christian Community Initiative 

Veritas Forum – Religion and Medicine: Should they Mix?

Religion and Medicine: Should they Mix?: When are discussions of religion and spirituality appropriate in medicine?

There are many reasons for strong concern about physicians/healthcare providers bringing their religious beliefs into clinical practice and especially if they discuss religion with their patients. The power dynamic between physicians and patients can lead to many unintended consequences. One’s religious beliefs might bias them to make decisions that are not clinically advisable. What if the physician is of a different faith background than the patient? In addition, some might say most physicians aren’t trained to talk about these issues, so they should leave them to hospital chaplains. Lastly, there is the issue of time: Clinicians have too much to do, so why add one more thing to their plate?

On the other hand, many would acknowledge that religion/spirituality form an integral part of the lives of many patients with profound implications on their health. A growing number of empirical studies suggest a relationship between religion and its impact on health and patient care. Clinicians take social/sexual histories while often holding different social backgrounds/practices than their patients, and this standard clinical practice has enormous value despite many of the same concerns present as those above. Why not include a spiritual history?

This year’s Veritas Forum at Harvard Medical School will be a dialogue between 4 speakers with differing views on the issue. Come with an open mind and any questions you might have!

Religion and Medicine: Should they Mix?:  When are discussions of religion and spirituality appropriate in medicine?

Date: Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 / 6:30-8:30 pm

(Note: Dinner discussions immediately following the event will occur in rooms in the same building from 9-10pm)

Location: TMEC Amphitheater (260 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115)

Click here to RSVP for the event 

https://www.facebook.com/events/2755013408056193/

RSVP for dinner discussions immediately following the event:  https://goo.gl/forms/7fm9lmE7Kv3nb9Pq1

Speakers:

Tia Powell, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Director of Montefiore Einstein Center for Bioethics (prior Executive Director of New York State’s bioethics commission).

Tyler VanderWeele, PhD, Harvard School of Public Health: Professor of Epidemiology (recipient of the 2017 COPSS Presidents’ Award, the “Nobel prize/Field’s Medal of statistics)

Lydia Dugdale, MD, Yale School of Medicine: Associate Director of the Program for Biomedical Ethics (editor of “Dying in the Twenty-first Century: Toward a New Ethical Framework for the Art of Dying Well)

Richard Sloan, PhD, Columbia University Medical Center: Professor of Behavioral Medicine/Psychiatry (author of “Blind Faith: The Unholy Alliance of Religion and Medicine”)

Moderator:

Howard Koh, MD, Harvard School of Public Health: Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership (former US Assistant Secretary for Health nominated by President Barak Obama)

Sponsored by:  Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics, the Initiative on Health, Religion, and Spirituality at Harvard Medical School, the Thomistic Institute

Conversations Around the Thanksgiving Table

Photo from a UniteBoston dinner at Sally’s house in West Roxbury last month

Americans tend to eat with a variety of people around the Thanksgiving table:  neighbors, close friends, and family. Often, there are a variety of religious and political affiliations, and at times, these differences can lead to volatile conversation.

Barna research points out that today, religious views and political views on topics such as patriotism and immigration are especially dicey. They also found that there are generational differences in the aspects of our identity that tie to our sense of self.

The challenge in these settings is to learn how to have constructive conversations with people who are different than you. Younger people tend to be more likely to choose diverse social environments than older generations, yet more often than not, people choose to be with people who are like them.

To capitalize on the learning that can happen through engaging with people different than you, we want to highlight a great resource called “Reaching Across the Divide” from Essential Partners. It offers tips to help people better understand each other’s perspectives, and the hopes, fears and values behind them. As Christians, we need to take the lead in modeling how to love one another across deep divides, and stay in relationship even when it’s difficult, as that is what Christ has done for us.

Click on the link below to download the resource!

https://uniteboston.com/…/2018/11/EP-Red-Blue-Guide-1.pdf

 


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