Updates, Events, and Publications
Published Date: January 4, 2021
THE FALL 2020 ISSUE OF THE ASBURY JOURNAL IS NOW AVAILABLE
The Fall 2020 issue of the Asbury journal is now available! Click here to read this new edition. This edition features interesting articles, including the promised longer article about Ichthus Music Festival and its impact on our community. We hope you enjoy the articles in your alma mater’s publication! Here’s a peek at this edition’s contents:
DR. GREGG OKESSON AWARDED BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR CHRISTIANITY TODAY’S 2021 BOOK AWARDS
Dr. Gregg Okesson, Dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism, received Christianity Today’s 2021 book award in the Missions/Global Church category for his book A Public Missiology: How Local Churches Witness to a Complex World.
“We are extremely proud of Dr. Okesson and honored to have such an esteemed professor on our faculty,” said Dr. Timothy C. Tennent, President of Asbury Theological Seminary.” Dr. Okesson’s scholarship and heart for global church and its mission is evident throughout his work.”
In his book, Dr. Okesson offers guidance to the complex challenges believers and local congregations face as they bring the gospel message to their communities. Using a variety of examples, Dr. Okesson shows ways that Christians can share the gospel message as they move between church, neighborhoods, workplaces, public spaces and home. Readers will find this book helpful as they see new ways to share their faith in all the realms in which they live and envision new approaches to public witness and social change.
“I am deeply honored by this award,” Dr. Okesson said. “I’ve dedicated this book to my villages in Tanzania and my students at my theological institution in Africa. They have taught me more than any others what it means for the church to be a hermeneutic of the gospel and to witness the Lordship of Christ within public spaces.”
Dr. Okesson served ten years at Scott Christian University in Kenya prior to coming to Asbury Seminary in 2011. He has also served as a pastor in upstate New York and a church-planter among a Muslim people-group in Tanzania. He is interested in the linkages between theology, mission and global realities, particularly those with poverty, development, power, institutions and social engagement.
1969 ALUMNI PUBLISHES NEW DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR SMALL GROUPS
Roger K. Peters, D.Min, class of 1969, writing as Taylor Penfield has published a discussion guide for small groups in order to discuss the implications of Wonder Clearing for discipleship.
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ALUMNUS SHIVRAJ MAHENDRA HOSTS FIRST EVER HINDI CHRISTIAN POETS CONFERENCE
Here is his update to us:
I am delighted to inform you that by God’s I was able to organize the first Hindi Christian Poets Conference in India (and in the world). My vision and dream of many years finally came true on December 26, 2020. There were 12 eminent as well as emerging Hindi Christian poets, men and women, who read their poems for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Over 25 poetry-lovers joined online to watch the event live. Hundreds of people have watched the program on Facebook and on YouTube. This was a historic event, the beginning of a whole new movement of Hindi Christian literary activity in our times. I praise God for the grand success of this humble venture. I have received encouraging remarks from both the poets and the audience.
Hindi poetry conferences have been very popular public literary events in India since 1920s. These conferences have been organized around the year in various north Indian states and in recent years it is also being organized worldwide, especially in nations such as Dubai, Singapore, and the USA, where there are great numbers of Hindi speakers. It is important to note that in the 100 years of the history of Hindi poetry conferences, there has not been even one Hindi Christian poetry conference until Dec. 26, 2020. Although the western India/Maharashtra region has been organizing Christian poetry conferences for the past 16 years, it has predominantly been a Marathi language event. Thus, we are the first to inaugurate the event in Hindi.
I have been uniting, encouraging, and mentoring emerging Hindi Christian writers for a while under the banner of Masihi Lekhak aur Anuvadak Parishad (Christian Writers and Translators Council). Currently, there are over 550 members in this literary guild. The vision and mission of this group are to provide a global platform for mutual encouragement for all Hindi Christian writers and translators and to increase the number of theological literature in Hindi for the glory of God. Some of the key activities of the Council include (1) writers workshop, (2) translators workshop, (3) poetry conference, (4) publications, and (5) awards ceremony.
Thank you for your time. Please continue to pray for our life and ministry in India.Please continue to partner with us to share Christ, nurture and grow new believers, and train Christian leaders. All gifts are appreciated. Give as God leads you.
Please select “Shivraj and Anita Mahendra” in the dropdown menu.
You may also write the checks to: “Parkway Christian Fellowship”, mention “Shivraj Mahendra” in the memo line, and mail to: Parkway Christian Fellowship | C/o Johnie Karr | 254 Royal Dr.| London, KY 40744
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REV. DR. ALFRED KALEMBO GIVES A YEAR REVIEW OF ILISA
To access and see the entire document, click here.
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Congratulations on a good year and may God bless you richly as you labor for the kingdom. Find memories! So proud of how you have serve the Lord.