AL-AN - PEOPLE-FILES
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- Oscar Amaechina - John Amanchukwu - Terry Amann - Sampson Amoateng - Mark Amstutz - Eddie Anderson - Matthew Lee Anderson - Marc Andreessen - Gwyn Andrews - Sharon Cohen Anisfeld - Thabiti Anyabwile -
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==oscar amaechina======
Oscar Amaechina
Oscar Amaechina is the president of Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network, Abuja, Nigeria. He has directed and supervised several research projects aimed at producing missiological strategies to enhance the work of missions in Nigeria and beyond. He has trained and graduated many missionaries in Afri-Mission Institute Of Missionary Studies. He is a Teacher and Evangelist by calling. Oscar is married to Josephine, also a minister of the gospel and co-worker in the missionary mandate. He is the Author of the book The Mystery Of The Cross Revealed. He is an Op-ed contributor with Christian Post.
Oscar Amaechina
The Apostle Paul was emphatic when he warned the Philippian Church to be careful of this group of people. "For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ"(Philippians 3:18). They pretend to be godly but secretly work against the Gospel. They oppress and secretly persecute those who love and preach the cross. Jesus also warned His disciples to be careful of those who are demonic but parade themselves as angels of light: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Mathew 7:15). In our time, there are similar false prophets, and their mode of operation has never changed. "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves" (2 Peter 2:1). There are now false teachers whose mandate is to introduce and teach errors that will take Christ out of the center of Christianity and place Him in the margin or remove Him altogether.
--Oscar Amaechina; Christian Post: Beware of false prophets and false brethren 2.24.22
--Oscar Amaechina; Christian Post: Beware of false prophets and false brethren 2.24.22
Oscar Amaechina Files
In 2 Corinthians 11:26, Paul mentions false brethren in the list of dangers he faced on his missionary journeys. There are many of us who have escaped their manipulations, but the dangers they pose to the faiths of many are a daily phenomenon. I personally have suffered so much in the hands of false brethren who claim to be custodians of the Gospel. I have been wounded so severally that sometimes I resort to solitude and even contemplate quitting my ministry. Many in the Church have been deceived because they’ve been often taught that everyone in the visible Church is a true believer. "One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them" (Job 1:6). Sadly, the devil oftentimes attends church services. Every believer should ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of discernment.
--Oscar Amaechina; president of Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network, Abuja, Nigeria. 2.24.22
--Oscar Amaechina; president of Afri-Mission and Evangelism Network, Abuja, Nigeria. 2.24.22
Oscar Amaechina
The Apostle Paul was emphatic when he warned the Philippian Church to be careful of this group of people. "For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ"(Philippians 3:18). They pretend to be godly but secretly work against the Gospel. They oppress and secretly persecute those who love and preach the cross. Jesus also warned His disciples to be careful of those who are demonic but parade themselves as angels of light: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matthew 7:15). In our time, there are similar false prophets, and their mode of operation has never changed. --Oscar Amaechina; Christian Post; 2.24.22
==john amanchukwu======
John Kanayochukwu Amanchukwu is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he played football under Coach Chuck Amato. John received a master’s degree from Liberty University in Christian Ministry. He has been a youth pastor for fifteen years. Over the past four years, John has led a 40-week prayer walk for Love Life at one of the busiest abortion clinics in the Southeast. His wife is Crystal and they have three children
John Kanayochukwu Amanchukwu is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he played football under Coach Chuck Amato. John received a master’s degree from Liberty University in Christian Ministry. He has been a youth pastor for fifteen years. Over the past four years, John has led a 40-week prayer walk for Love Life at one of the busiest abortion clinics in the Southeast. His wife is Crystal and they have three children
June 12, 2023: Word & Way: With Turning Point Faith, Pastors Use Politics as a Church-Growth Strategy
Kirk followed up by saying that TPUSA could connect them with speakers for their church gatherings such as the Rev. John Amanchukwu, a young adult pastor at Upper Room Church of God in Christ in North Carolina and outspoken opponent of abortion who has emerged as a conservative Black evangelical voice. Amanchukwu told RNS that as he and his senior pastor grew more visible since 2020, attendance at their church “exploded,” taking in people who “transitioned from other ministries that went woke.”
Kirk followed up by saying that TPUSA could connect them with speakers for their church gatherings such as the Rev. John Amanchukwu, a young adult pastor at Upper Room Church of God in Christ in North Carolina and outspoken opponent of abortion who has emerged as a conservative Black evangelical voice. Amanchukwu told RNS that as he and his senior pastor grew more visible since 2020, attendance at their church “exploded,” taking in people who “transitioned from other ministries that went woke.”
==terry amann======
Pastor Terry Amann has pastored churches in New Jersey and Iowa for almost 27 years. Currently he is pastor at Church of the Way in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to church ministry, he has served as a chaplain in prison, county jails, and juvenile detention centers for 10 years in Illinois and Iowa.
Terry Amann
“If he can extract himself from the legal morass that he's in, he'll be a force to be reckoned with. But it just remains to be seen how that's all going to go.............I would say they've learned from the first and second go-around. I'd say they're very highly organized and structured, and I think they'll be impressive.” --Pastor Terry Amann on Donald Trump & his campaign in Iowa 7.7.23
Meet the evangelical pastors who could choose the next president
Pastor Terry Amann, of Church of the Way in Des Moines, views the meetings as a “safe space” for candidates to learn how to talk to evangelicals. “In a lot of ways, (the private setting) helps them prepare,” Pastor Amann said. “When they stumble, it’s like, ‘you might want to go back and retool that.’” The pastors also offer candidates a “24/7 personal ministry,” where the politicians may call pastors at any time and get advice or a prayer over the phone. If a candidate were to win the election, that relationship could continue into the White House, should the candidate desire, Pastor Amann said. In addition to Amann and Tvedt, the pastors involved in Iowa are Bingaman (First Church of the Open Bible); Michael Demastus (Fort Des Moines Church of Christ) and Steve Rowland (Rising Sun Church of Christ). Some meetings are small, with only the five core pastors in attendance, alongside the candidate and campaign staff. Other meetings are open to other invitees, like the June 1 meeting with Trump, where over 40 pastors and their wives attended. “The goal is to get candidates in front of the pastors,” Pastor Amann said. “Then (the pastors) go back to their church, get people involved, call upon biblical values.” (Deseret News 8/14/23) Read More>>>>>
Pastor Terry Amann, of Church of the Way in Des Moines, views the meetings as a “safe space” for candidates to learn how to talk to evangelicals. “In a lot of ways, (the private setting) helps them prepare,” Pastor Amann said. “When they stumble, it’s like, ‘you might want to go back and retool that.’” The pastors also offer candidates a “24/7 personal ministry,” where the politicians may call pastors at any time and get advice or a prayer over the phone. If a candidate were to win the election, that relationship could continue into the White House, should the candidate desire, Pastor Amann said. In addition to Amann and Tvedt, the pastors involved in Iowa are Bingaman (First Church of the Open Bible); Michael Demastus (Fort Des Moines Church of Christ) and Steve Rowland (Rising Sun Church of Christ). Some meetings are small, with only the five core pastors in attendance, alongside the candidate and campaign staff. Other meetings are open to other invitees, like the June 1 meeting with Trump, where over 40 pastors and their wives attended. “The goal is to get candidates in front of the pastors,” Pastor Amann said. “Then (the pastors) go back to their church, get people involved, call upon biblical values.” (Deseret News 8/14/23) Read More>>>>>
April 12, 2023: Bharat Times: Trump and Iowa evangelicals: A bond that is hard to break
“I believe, and I think many evangelical Christians understand, politics at that level is a blood sport. Donald Trump is fighting. That’s why he worked,” said Rev. Terry Amann of suburban Des Moines. “So, it’s not our role to judge him.”
“I believe, and I think many evangelical Christians understand, politics at that level is a blood sport. Donald Trump is fighting. That’s why he worked,” said Rev. Terry Amann of suburban Des Moines. “So, it’s not our role to judge him.”
==sampson amoateng======
House of Miracle Ministries celebrates annual Gift Day; emphasising need for love, giving and receiving
The House of Miracle Ministries Worldwide, under the leadership of Prophet Sampson Amoateng, celebrated its annual Family and Friends Gift Day with a powerful message centered on love, generosity and activating once power to receive. The event, held at the HOM auditorium, saw an outpouring of kindness as members, visitors, and Persons Living With Disability received over 400 bags of rice, cooking oil, while some men received suits from Prophet Sampson Amoateng. In his sermon, the Prophet emphasized the importance of loving one another and extending kindness to the less fortunate. He reminded the church that true giving goes beyond what one can receive in return. "Love one another, give to the poor and needy and not only to those who can give back to you," Prophet Amoateng admonished, reflecting the church's commitment to exemplifying the teachings of Christ.
(Joy Online 8/12/24) Read More>>>>>
The House of Miracle Ministries Worldwide, under the leadership of Prophet Sampson Amoateng, celebrated its annual Family and Friends Gift Day with a powerful message centered on love, generosity and activating once power to receive. The event, held at the HOM auditorium, saw an outpouring of kindness as members, visitors, and Persons Living With Disability received over 400 bags of rice, cooking oil, while some men received suits from Prophet Sampson Amoateng. In his sermon, the Prophet emphasized the importance of loving one another and extending kindness to the less fortunate. He reminded the church that true giving goes beyond what one can receive in return. "Love one another, give to the poor and needy and not only to those who can give back to you," Prophet Amoateng admonished, reflecting the church's commitment to exemplifying the teachings of Christ.
(Joy Online 8/12/24) Read More>>>>>
Forcing members to pay tithes is wrong – Pastor Amoateng chides colleagues
Popular Ghanaian prophet, Sampson Amoateng, has urged Pentecostal churches to refrain from pressuring their members to pay tithes and offerings. The General Overseer of House of Miracles Ministries in Accra, Ghana made the call in a video posted through Facebook on Wednesday, June 5. He described tithe paying and offering in church as a scriptural practice, noting that giving is meant to be free will not by force. Amoateng said: “I am against churches forcing people to pay tithe. I am against pastors or churches forcing people to document their tithe cards. My money is my thank you. It’s carnal to document tithe cards. “Tithing is a spiritual discipline that requires faith, trust, and obedience. By setting aside a portion of our income, we acknowledge that everything we have belongs to God and that we are mere stewards of His resources.
(Correcting 6/9/24) Read More>>>>>
Popular Ghanaian prophet, Sampson Amoateng, has urged Pentecostal churches to refrain from pressuring their members to pay tithes and offerings. The General Overseer of House of Miracles Ministries in Accra, Ghana made the call in a video posted through Facebook on Wednesday, June 5. He described tithe paying and offering in church as a scriptural practice, noting that giving is meant to be free will not by force. Amoateng said: “I am against churches forcing people to pay tithe. I am against pastors or churches forcing people to document their tithe cards. My money is my thank you. It’s carnal to document tithe cards. “Tithing is a spiritual discipline that requires faith, trust, and obedience. By setting aside a portion of our income, we acknowledge that everything we have belongs to God and that we are mere stewards of His resources.
(Correcting 6/9/24) Read More>>>>>
==mark amstutz======
Do Evangelicals Still Care to Make a Moral Case for War?
EVANGELICALS, ONE OF TRUMP’S MOST LOYAL constituencies to this day, have never prioritized foreign policy in their politics. In a seminal 2006 Foreign Affairs essay, Walter Russell Mead—a commentator who himself attends an evangelical church—characterized evangelicals’ approach to the world as having an “anti-intellectual cast,” something demonstrated in their reduction of foreign policy concerns to three major issues: Israel, religious liberty for their fellow Christians, and humanitarian aid. They are “quick to support efforts to address specific problems” such as “instances of human suffering or injustice,” he wrote, but they seem to have little interest in “grand designs”—such as would be required to justify a protracted military engagement, one might reasonably infer. In 2014, Mark Amstutz, a political scientist at the evangelical Wheaton College, made an argument similar to Mead’s, suggesting that evangelical leaders too often speak on global matters without “adequate competence and knowledge.” Mead and Amstutz were both writing with the George W. Bush administration and its 2003 invasion of Iraq in mind. Bush sent American troops into Iraq to destroy and replace the country’s repressive regime while neutralizing what he described as the “grave and gathering danger” of its weapons of mass destruction. Back then, too, evangelicals cheered the successes of American soldiers in completing their missions.
(The Bulwark; 3.24.26)READMORE>>>>>>
EVANGELICALS, ONE OF TRUMP’S MOST LOYAL constituencies to this day, have never prioritized foreign policy in their politics. In a seminal 2006 Foreign Affairs essay, Walter Russell Mead—a commentator who himself attends an evangelical church—characterized evangelicals’ approach to the world as having an “anti-intellectual cast,” something demonstrated in their reduction of foreign policy concerns to three major issues: Israel, religious liberty for their fellow Christians, and humanitarian aid. They are “quick to support efforts to address specific problems” such as “instances of human suffering or injustice,” he wrote, but they seem to have little interest in “grand designs”—such as would be required to justify a protracted military engagement, one might reasonably infer. In 2014, Mark Amstutz, a political scientist at the evangelical Wheaton College, made an argument similar to Mead’s, suggesting that evangelical leaders too often speak on global matters without “adequate competence and knowledge.” Mead and Amstutz were both writing with the George W. Bush administration and its 2003 invasion of Iraq in mind. Bush sent American troops into Iraq to destroy and replace the country’s repressive regime while neutralizing what he described as the “grave and gathering danger” of its weapons of mass destruction. Back then, too, evangelicals cheered the successes of American soldiers in completing their missions.
(The Bulwark; 3.24.26)READMORE>>>>>>
==eddie anderson======
Rev. Edward” Eddie” Anderson is a civil rights activist and ordained minister with degrees from Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology. Rev.Anderson was born on Warner Robins Air Force base and raised on the Southside of Atlanta as the fourth (youngest)child of Rev.Ganus and Priscilla Anderson. Currently, he serves the historic McCarty Memorial Christian Church located in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Pastor Eddie is an Regional organizer for LA Voice(PICO),advocate for Black Lives Matter, Co-Founder of Clergy4BlackLives, a convener and former Co-Chair of the New Poor People's Campaign in California(led nationally by Rev.William Barber II) and was a Bethany and Preston Taylor Fellow.Rev. Anderson has served as a movement and thought leader for many of the local and state-wide reforms around transformative justice and has been jailed for justice at least 4 times. Reverend Anderson served as a Commissioner for the Los Angeles Redistricting Commission (2020-2021) and is on the board of the ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County and the Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee for LAHSA and LA County. He serves on the National Convocation Board as the President of Youth and Young Adults as well as the Regional Board for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as Chairman of New Church Development. He is a sought out leader within his church denomination and served on every level of the church including his latest appointment to the General Ethics Commission of the denomination. Last year,Pastor Eddie was humbled to be awarded the honor of being a Leonard Beerman Fellow, a fellowship that has funded the work of rising political and civil rights leaders across the nation. Pastor Eddie serves on the Board of Directors for Claremont School of Theology as well as Progressive Christians Uniting and served on Crossroads for Women Inc, Eastmont Community Center boards raising the voices of those who are forced to live along the margins of society.Rev.Anderson Co-Organized Trust Talks LA with Rev.Delonte Gholston.Trust Talks is a award winning faith community-led initiative that brings together all sides of the Downtown Los Angeles community—including representatives of Skid Row, condo owners and renters, police, business owners, and activists—in discussions around race and policing.The model was also used to heal race relations in West Virginia. He continued this work for equity and repair as member of the Measure J Steering Committee, Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee(LAHSA) and the community advisory board for the Los Angeles County Anti-Racisim, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.
In 2020 Rev.Andeson co-founded the Partnership for Growth Los Angeles Community Development Corporation with Rabbi Joel Simonds, which has partnered with local communities to impact the lives of over 10k South LA residents to date and will break ground on the largest Urban farms program in SD30 and the 37th Congressional district in a decade.
Pastor Eddie is an Regional organizer for LA Voice(PICO),advocate for Black Lives Matter, Co-Founder of Clergy4BlackLives, a convener and former Co-Chair of the New Poor People's Campaign in California(led nationally by Rev.William Barber II) and was a Bethany and Preston Taylor Fellow.Rev. Anderson has served as a movement and thought leader for many of the local and state-wide reforms around transformative justice and has been jailed for justice at least 4 times. Reverend Anderson served as a Commissioner for the Los Angeles Redistricting Commission (2020-2021) and is on the board of the ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County and the Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee for LAHSA and LA County. He serves on the National Convocation Board as the President of Youth and Young Adults as well as the Regional Board for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as Chairman of New Church Development. He is a sought out leader within his church denomination and served on every level of the church including his latest appointment to the General Ethics Commission of the denomination. Last year,Pastor Eddie was humbled to be awarded the honor of being a Leonard Beerman Fellow, a fellowship that has funded the work of rising political and civil rights leaders across the nation. Pastor Eddie serves on the Board of Directors for Claremont School of Theology as well as Progressive Christians Uniting and served on Crossroads for Women Inc, Eastmont Community Center boards raising the voices of those who are forced to live along the margins of society.Rev.Anderson Co-Organized Trust Talks LA with Rev.Delonte Gholston.Trust Talks is a award winning faith community-led initiative that brings together all sides of the Downtown Los Angeles community—including representatives of Skid Row, condo owners and renters, police, business owners, and activists—in discussions around race and policing.The model was also used to heal race relations in West Virginia. He continued this work for equity and repair as member of the Measure J Steering Committee, Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee(LAHSA) and the community advisory board for the Los Angeles County Anti-Racisim, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.
In 2020 Rev.Andeson co-founded the Partnership for Growth Los Angeles Community Development Corporation with Rabbi Joel Simonds, which has partnered with local communities to impact the lives of over 10k South LA residents to date and will break ground on the largest Urban farms program in SD30 and the 37th Congressional district in a decade.
The Christians mounting a moral counter to Trump's immigration agenda
A diverse coalition of moderate and progressive Christians has opted to jump off the pulpit and challenge President Trump around immigration, civil rights and poverty. Why it matters: Trump commands fierce loyalty from conservative evangelicals backing his immigration raids and National Guard deployments. But "faith isn't owned by the Right," the Rev. Eddie Anderson tells Axios. "And God isn't a dirty word. God is the word." The contrast exposes a widening and overlooked rift within U.S. Christianity — often called the "God gap" — that could reshape how faith, power and politics intersect heading into 2026. (Axios 10/23/25) READMORE>>>>
A diverse coalition of moderate and progressive Christians has opted to jump off the pulpit and challenge President Trump around immigration, civil rights and poverty. Why it matters: Trump commands fierce loyalty from conservative evangelicals backing his immigration raids and National Guard deployments. But "faith isn't owned by the Right," the Rev. Eddie Anderson tells Axios. "And God isn't a dirty word. God is the word." The contrast exposes a widening and overlooked rift within U.S. Christianity — often called the "God gap" — that could reshape how faith, power and politics intersect heading into 2026. (Axios 10/23/25) READMORE>>>>
==matthew lee anderson=========
Matthew Lee Anderson is an Assistant Research Professor of Ethics and Theology at Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion and the founder of Mere Orthodoxy. You may read more at matthewleeanderson.com.
The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis
In one respect, Prior’s effort is to repristinate evangelicalism by disentangling the elements of the evangelical social imaginary “that are truly Christian” so they “can be better distinguished from those that are merely cultural.” Such an effort requires momentarily escaping the blindfold of the metaphors, stories, and images that mold our pre-cognitive intuitions and dispositions in order to see what is real. American evangelicals have long been proficient at introspective assessments of our own movement. Since the mid-1980s, sociologists like James Davison Hunter have diagnosed evangelicalism’s contemporary virtues and pathologies, while thinkers like Mark Noll and David Bebbington have sought to interpret the movement through a historical lens.
(Matthew Lee Anderson/Public Discourse 11/13/23)
Read More>>>>>
In one respect, Prior’s effort is to repristinate evangelicalism by disentangling the elements of the evangelical social imaginary “that are truly Christian” so they “can be better distinguished from those that are merely cultural.” Such an effort requires momentarily escaping the blindfold of the metaphors, stories, and images that mold our pre-cognitive intuitions and dispositions in order to see what is real. American evangelicals have long been proficient at introspective assessments of our own movement. Since the mid-1980s, sociologists like James Davison Hunter have diagnosed evangelicalism’s contemporary virtues and pathologies, while thinkers like Mark Noll and David Bebbington have sought to interpret the movement through a historical lens.
(Matthew Lee Anderson/Public Discourse 11/13/23)
Read More>>>>>
==marc andreesen======
How Christian Leaders Are Challenging the AI Boom
Many Christians also dislike the way that Silicon Valley leaders have used religious language or iconography to support their mission of building God-like machines. The venture capitalist Peter Thiel, for example, has invoked the antichrist in lectures, theorizing that such a figure might wield anti-AI sentiment to amass political power. In November, Marc Andreessen posted a meme on X that appeared to mock Pope Leo over a post about AI. (Time; 12.23.25)READMORE>>>>>>
Many Christians also dislike the way that Silicon Valley leaders have used religious language or iconography to support their mission of building God-like machines. The venture capitalist Peter Thiel, for example, has invoked the antichrist in lectures, theorizing that such a figure might wield anti-AI sentiment to amass political power. In November, Marc Andreessen posted a meme on X that appeared to mock Pope Leo over a post about AI. (Time; 12.23.25)READMORE>>>>>>
==gwyn andrews======
At AmFest, Turning Point USA leaders leverage Kirk's 'martyrdom' to rally young voters
Gwyn Andrews, 22, who founded a TPUSA chapter at the University of West Georgia, expressed concern about the “Islamic faith issue that has been infiltrating our cities, our colleges,” adding that “a big issue for me personally is to make sure that people truly understand the Islamic faith and how that directly ties to socialism, as we’ve seen in New York City with Mamdani,” referring to New York’s Muslim mayor-elect. She said that for American society to thrive, Muslim immigrants need to assimilate, a word that cropped up consistently at AmFest. “The goal is for them to understand that when you assimilate here, you can’t go to Dearborn, Michigan, and turn the entire place into a Third World country and then try to implement Shariah law,” she said.
(Religion News Service; 12/20/25) READMORE>>>>
Gwyn Andrews, 22, who founded a TPUSA chapter at the University of West Georgia, expressed concern about the “Islamic faith issue that has been infiltrating our cities, our colleges,” adding that “a big issue for me personally is to make sure that people truly understand the Islamic faith and how that directly ties to socialism, as we’ve seen in New York City with Mamdani,” referring to New York’s Muslim mayor-elect. She said that for American society to thrive, Muslim immigrants need to assimilate, a word that cropped up consistently at AmFest. “The goal is for them to understand that when you assimilate here, you can’t go to Dearborn, Michigan, and turn the entire place into a Third World country and then try to implement Shariah law,” she said.
(Religion News Service; 12/20/25) READMORE>>>>
==Sharon Cohen Anisfeld======
Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld has been an educator at The Bronfman Fellowship since 1993. She has also been the Dean of the Rabbinical School at Hebrew College since 2006. Prior to assuming this position, she served as an adjunct faculty member and Dean of Students at the Rabbinical School. Rabbi Sharon graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1990, and subsequently spent 15 years working in pluralistic settings as a Hillel rabbi at Tufts, Yale and Harvard. She is the co-editor of two volumes of women’s writings on Passover, The Women’s Seder Sourcebook and The Women’s Passover Companion.
First woman to lead Vatican City to speak at Nazareth University summit
The first woman to lead the governing body of Vatican City is set to speak at Nazareth University's Interfaith Centennial Summit on Sunday. Appointed to her historic role as President of the Governorate of Vatican City State in March by Pope Francis, Sr. Raffaella Petrini will be joined at Nazareth by Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, president of Hebrew College in Massachusetts, and Najeeba Syeed, J.D., a human rights lawyer and executive director of Interfaith at Augsburg University. The summit will feature presentations from the trio of women scholars, offering Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives on critical global issues such as peacebuilding in times of crisis, fostering a leadership of care, and extending compassion. (WHAM 4/6/25) READMORE>>>>>
The first woman to lead the governing body of Vatican City is set to speak at Nazareth University's Interfaith Centennial Summit on Sunday. Appointed to her historic role as President of the Governorate of Vatican City State in March by Pope Francis, Sr. Raffaella Petrini will be joined at Nazareth by Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, president of Hebrew College in Massachusetts, and Najeeba Syeed, J.D., a human rights lawyer and executive director of Interfaith at Augsburg University. The summit will feature presentations from the trio of women scholars, offering Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives on critical global issues such as peacebuilding in times of crisis, fostering a leadership of care, and extending compassion. (WHAM 4/6/25) READMORE>>>>>
Former Far Right Evangelical Leader Joins Pluralistic Jewish Institution
After nearly four decades as a controversial national figure on the Christian religious far right, the Reverend Dr. Rob Schenck has made an unusual move to join the faculty of Hebrew College as a visiting scholar. The once prominent anti-abortion activist has since repudiated his radical conservative positions and has dedicated himself to promoting racial justice, reducing gun violence, and fostering religious inclusion. His hiring as Visiting Scholar of Christianity & Religious Leadership at Hebrew College reflects the institution’s commitment to training Jewish and other religious leaders for service in an interconnected world. “Rev. Schenck is a brave and wise leader, who has been engaged in significant efforts to make our country a more just and compassionate society for several years now. I am profoundly inspired by his personal journey and his moral and religious leadership. We are honored to welcome him to the Hebrew College community,” commented Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, president of Hebrew College, on the hiring.
(Hebrew College 6/29/23) READMORE>>>>>
After nearly four decades as a controversial national figure on the Christian religious far right, the Reverend Dr. Rob Schenck has made an unusual move to join the faculty of Hebrew College as a visiting scholar. The once prominent anti-abortion activist has since repudiated his radical conservative positions and has dedicated himself to promoting racial justice, reducing gun violence, and fostering religious inclusion. His hiring as Visiting Scholar of Christianity & Religious Leadership at Hebrew College reflects the institution’s commitment to training Jewish and other religious leaders for service in an interconnected world. “Rev. Schenck is a brave and wise leader, who has been engaged in significant efforts to make our country a more just and compassionate society for several years now. I am profoundly inspired by his personal journey and his moral and religious leadership. We are honored to welcome him to the Hebrew College community,” commented Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, president of Hebrew College, on the hiring.
(Hebrew College 6/29/23) READMORE>>>>>
==Thabiti Anyabwile======
Thabiti Anyabwile (MS, North Carolina State University) is a pastor at Anacostia River Church in southeast Washington, DC. He’s the author of several books, including What Is a Healthy Church Member?, Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons, Reviving the Black Church, a
Thabiti Anyabwile
What Is a Healthy Church Member? takes its cue from Mark Dever’s book What Is a Healthy Church?, which offered one definition of what a healthy church looks like biblically and historically. Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile attempts to answer the natural next question: “What does a healthy church member look like in the light of Scripture?” God intends for us to play an active and vital part in the body of Christ, the local church. He wants us to experience the local church as a home more profoundly wonderful and meaningful than any other place on earth. He intends for his churches to be healthy places and for the members of those churches to be healthy as well. This book explains how membership in the local church can produce spiritual growth in its members and how each member can contribute to the growth and health of the whole.
Thabiti Anyabwile
But being “gospel people” comes with a peculiar pitfall. It’s possible to be the kind of “gospel people” who use appeals to “the gospel” as a way of escape rather than engagement. Let’s call this “gospel escapism,” that attempt to flee from either the banality or brutality of life by superficial recourse to the gospel. These “gospel people” use the word “gospel” in their writing and speeches a lot. They think simply mentioning the word is the same thing as applying the various truths of Jesus’ life and work to the exigencies of life. It’s escapism because it fails to see in any deep way how Jesus’ Incarnation, active obedience, sacrificial and substitutionary death, resurrection, heavenly session and imminent return for sinners speaks to the troubled life of the sinner in any way other than deliverance into another world. --Thabiti Anyabwile; Gospel Coalition; Spotting “Gospel Escapism” in Evangelical Circles 12.1.14
