Roughly fifty years ago, the streets of this country were burning. The Panthers were out in full force, policing their own neighborhoods and threatening to “Off the pigs” if the violence didn’t stop. Martin Luther King was calling for peace, even though some of his marches were criticized for ultimately inciting violence. Malcolm X was mesmerizing […]
Podcast: Play in new window | Download Jemar and Tyler are joined by Karen Ellis to discuss global events of the past few weeks and the Christian response. Karen Ellis “The global Church is us.” “One of the most profound things we can do is to respond to our Muslim neighbors, not with a spirit of fear, but […]
It’s been heavy week of sadness and tragedy, both at home and around the globe. Rather than bring you more injustices that occurred among the persecuted, this week’s roundup focuses on three videos of perseverance from around the globe. Take a few moments away from the din and be encouraged by the resilience of the […]
The recent police shootings of two African American men in Baton Rouge and Falcon Heights have shocked many people. Unfortunately, I was not shocked. You see, I have always lived between two worlds, both within the United States. This first world is an upper to middle class, majority white suburban world. This world is highly protected. Unfortunately, it is protected by ignorance, not stupidity. It is protected by privilege. It is protected by […]
“The Bible shows us the Lord’s hot pursuit of all peoples and cultures, and this is expressed most completely in the gospel and is fulfilled completely in the kingdom of God. Yet, God’s multi-ethnic vision is not commonly found in North American churches. We are compelled to ask: Is this a theological problem? Apart from […]
This article has been reposted from The Gospel Coalition website. You can find the original here. White-haired, suit-wearing Presbyterian lawyers don’t typically garner the fandom of teenagers, but Mr. Z did. Each week dozens of us would gather in his home. He would feed us and let us trash his house, watch movies, and play basketball. Each […]
For Americans and the country’s residents, this weekend may likely consist of barbecues, fireworks, memorials, and various patriotic gatherings to commemorate and celebrate America’s independence. July 4 is a welcomed holiday and good and right for this nation to celebrate. However, the celebration of, the honoring of, and the worship of America has no place […]
Duke Kwon delivered this talk on June 22, 2016, during the Presbyterian Church in America’s General Assembly in Mobile, AL. The night before the historic vote on the overture on racial reconciliation, about 400 PCA pastors and elders of various racial backgrounds gathered for a night of fellowship, singing, and prayer. Duke Kwon was invited to […]
Note: This post originally appeared on We Persevere: The Personal Blog of K.A. Ellis. Find the post and more excellent content here. One of the most destructive lies of American chattel slavery was that “if we were good and obedient slaves, we would be greatly rewarded in heaven.” In the twenty-first century, this distortion of Scripture […]
Jerry Bridges has been a staple in the Reformed community. In this article, Warner Aldridge reviews Bridges’ recent and final book: The Blessing of Humility.
In the midst of feeling distant from and abandoned by God, what is one to do? Andrew Restrepo shows us that the answer is found in remembering God’s faithfulness.
Growing up, I spent much of my life in settings that were predominately white. The members at my church were mainly white. My public schooling was largely Caucasian. The neighborhoods I grew up in were mostly white. My childhood experience was that of a typical white male, born to middle-class evangelical parents in the twentieth […]
The theme of the the Presbyterian Church in America’s 44th General Assembly was “Refreshed In and For the Cross.” For those present on the evening of June 23, 2016, it may have been one of the most refreshing times in the denomination’s history. That night, Overture 43: Pursuing Racial Reconciliation and the Advancement of the […]
We Persevere Week of June 24, 2016 World: Each January, the World Watch List is released from Open Doors to identify the top 50 countries where persecution is the most extreme. There are many more countries where believers face oppression, however, and these countries remain on the cusp of the list each year; among them, Russia and […]
To take on the burden and trouble of another, beloved, this is Christ (Gal. 6:2).
It has been said that 11:00am on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America, meaning black and white Christians are still very divided. I’ve often struggled with the racial divide amongst Christians, especially when we believe in the same God. Very few African American Christians would consider themselves to be evangelical, because for many […]
“Chance the Rapper’s ‘Coloring Book’ Is a Gospel Rap Masterpiece” reads the headline for a recent article from Rolling Stone Magazine. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, Rolling Stone is sprinkling complexities atop a decades-old discussion in the Christian community. The war over genre definition amongst Christians who rap has spawned treasures and trolls alike. Everything from […]
Urban ministry is a different monster than any other form of ministry. In an urban context, church planters and church plants face many challenges that suburban church planters and plants do not experience. Urban church planting involves struggles that may make it nearly impossible to be a flourishing church in the first 5-7 years of ministry. These […]
DeAron Washington argues that there is a need for compassion within the body. We spend more time dismissing feelings and reciting facts rather than truly feeling with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
I speak in many different contexts on issues related to reconciliation and multi-ethnic churches. I’ve observed one reason that reconciliation and multi-ethnic churches are difficult to achieve for some churches is because few of them are willing to make the necessary multi-ethnic negotiations for the purpose of pursuing healthy, gospel-centered, multi-ethnic churches. But God, in […]
