Shalom
Communities of Shalom ~ Drew University
“FAITH WITHOUT ACTION IS DEAD”(James 2:17)
“What good it is, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat our fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”(James 2:14-17 (NRSV))
Faith in Action
Jesus’ ministry was a seamless integration. He met people where they were and brought them an awareness of Salvation not only through words, but through his healing power of love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Shalom practices faith in action: the acting out of our faith, and in so doing, reaching and drawing persons into God’s shalom.
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“What is a Shalom Church?” by Michael Christensen
"The church is the Church only when it exists for others."(Dietrich Bonheoffer)
A Shalom Church is one that focuses on the community rather than the congregation, and as an indirect result, experiences spiritual vitality and growth in the host or sponsoring church of Shalom ministry.
Based on Jeremiah’s instructions to the exiles about ‘seeking the shalom of the community where they have been sent’ (Jeremiah 29:4-7), a Shalom Church is a neighborhood church with a local parish that extends outside the four walls of a church building. Its focus in on how to build coalitions that work together to raise the quality of life in a particular community.
Communities of Shalom (as you know) is an international network of community development projects or demonstration acts in small, geographical areas (called shalom zones). A shalom zone may be just one square block, or a zip code, or village or even one long country road). Instead of individual churches or community organizations working independently on their own agenda, they try to work together across cultural and religious boundaries for the Shalom of All.
There is self-interest involved here. If you seek the shalom of the community, “its welfare you will find your welfare. In its shalom you will find your shalom.”
There are community interests here. If Babylon prospers, the exiles will prosper. Our fortunes are tied to those of the community of which we are a part. When you seek the shalom of others, we ourselves are blessed....
If you focus only on the congregation, a church becomes insular and exclusive. If you focus on the good of the whole community where the congregation is based, if you focus on raising the quality of life in the community where you live, work or worship, then both the community and the congregation can prosper.
Focus on community; the congregation may grow as a by-product. “Seek first God's kingdom... and all these other things will be added as well...”
"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to help you and not to harm you, plans for your welfare and shalom, to give you hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)
Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in the Practice of Spirituality and Ministry and
Director of Shalom Initiative
Drew University
Madison, New Jersey 07940
For more on What is a Shalom Church, visit our Shalomblog:
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Shalom Regional Training in New York
The New York Conference of The United Methodist Church has contracted with National Trainer David Cooper of ShalomMakers to offer initial consultation and the full seven-session, 42 hour training in New York, beginning January/February. After completion of the training, NYAC will officially be recognized as a Shalom Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Under the leadership of Ann Pearson, Director of Connectional Ministries, The New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is engaging the Drew University Communities of Shalom in an extended relationship of training, coaching and technical support for interested and committed churches.
The work will commence with the Clinton Avenue UMC in Kingston, NY: http://www.nyac.com/churches/detail/2021
Rev. Darlene Kelley is the pastor of the church and has served as a coordinator of shalom-making ministries. Rev. David Cooper is providing coaching for Shalom Zone Team formation and will commence training with the emerging Shalom Team on February 22, 2014 and will conclude with Shalom Zone commissioning on August 23, 2014.
The NYAC is in the process of making application for the training and preliminary coaching has already started with Rev. Kelley.
Contact information:
Ann Pearson, DCM, NYAC:
914-615-2230
Darlene Kelley,
8452-626-2285.
David Cooper,
804-614-6254.
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The Cal Nevada Conference
This Conference will take place in the San Francisco Bay Area and will launch its sponsored training with an introductory workshop on Saturday, November 16, at the Wayside United Methodist Church in Vallejo, CA.
Dr. Fredrick Douglas Smith (formerly a professor at Wesley Seminary in Washington D.C. and now the pastor at Wayside UMC and a national trainer-consultant with Communities of Shalom, will be working with me as National Director to facilitate the seven-session, 42 hour training course beginning February 2 in Berkeley, Ca.
For additional information on this training, visit the Shalom blog: communitiesofshalom.blogspot.com
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More than We Ask or Imagine
“Now to [God] who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to [God’s] power that is at work within us, to [God] be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (NIV Ephesians 3:20-21)
This past summer, Shalom intern, Richard Romero a seminarian from Drew Theological School decided to join the Shalom Zone of North Camden, New Jersey, to bring shalom to the city. He joined forces with Respond, Inc. to bring shalom principles to the streets of North Camden. Yet, one thing was evident from the beginning, Shalom principles were already alive in the work that Respond, Inc. had been doing in North Camden.
In 1967 the residents of the North Camden community decided to do something about the many challenges they were facing. One of the most urgent needs they identified was child care for parents who were in school or training for employment. They came together to form the North Camden Day Care Project that established the first child care center in the area. This same year, the program housed 30 children and Wilbert Mitchell, a young teacher at Sewell School, became the first Executive Director. He has led the agency since. In 1968, the child care project was incorporated with two programs in operation serving 90 children; and in 1972, the infant program and the Winslow and Merchantville Day Care centers began.
In 1975 the agency was named Respond, Inc. By this time child care programs were all extended to a full day yet there was still a need for preschool and School Age Child Care programs. East Camden and Bank Street Centers opened in the 1980s and the Firehouse Center on Vine Street opened in 1995 to fulfill these needs. In time, Respond, Inc. also provided classrooms for the Abbott district and assumed operation of Virtua-Camden’s Leaps & Bounds Child Care Center in 2000. Services for infants and preschoolers expanded in 2003 with the opening of the North Camden Child Development Center at 6th and State Streets. By the year 2010, Respond had 22 Abbott district classrooms.
What started as a dream 46 years ago is now a reality beyond anybody’s dreams. I wonder how many of those who organized the first child care group would have ever imagined the impact of their work. This was a simple respond the neighbors gave to their needs; and now it has become an example to follow. This should encourage us not to underestimate our small efforts to do something for others even if it looks menial. What may seem like a small deed can, in time, with God’s grace, become something amazing. The work of Respond shows us that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
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Our mailing address is:
Communities of Shalom
12 Campus Drive
Madison, NJ 07940
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