Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 January 2003 — Page 9

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2003 PAGE B1

I N S I

Salt and

Light

By Bishop T. Gorrott

Benjamin

Keep Christ in the construction

My guest columnist this week is Rev. Eugene Randall II, a member of Light of the World Christian Church and vice president for ministry resources, Board of Church Extension, (Disciples of Christ), Indianapolis. By REV. EUGENE RANDALL II

Over 22 years ago, when I accepted a call to ministry, I envisioned that one day I would be traveling from church to church providing some form of service. When I was called to serve as a consultant for Board of Church Extension (Disciples of Christ) based here in Indianapolis, my vision became a reality. Our mission is to serve congregations involved in preparing for building projects. As a consultant I am responsible for visiting various congregations across the United States. Part of my role as a consultant is to help congregations “keep Christ in the construction” from the early planning stage to completion. During an initial meeting, I inquire about the congregation’s present and anticipated ministry. Often some of my questions will throw leaders of the congregation off because they anticipate a conversation which focuses totally on the building planning process. One of my favorite questions to ask is “What is it about your congregation’s ministry that you feel best about?” When I raise this question, many times I get a response which includes a list of ministries that a congregation is doing in spite of not having adequate space. Sometimes it is difficult for leaders to identify the ministries in which they are involved. If Christ is to be in the construction, clarity about mission and ministry has to come first. As a minister of the gospel serving as a consultant, I have an opportunity to help “bring order out of chaos" as a congregation is preparing for the building planning process. My own congregation, Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has been in the midst of a building project. Praise God for the array of ministry opportunities that the congregation offers. These activities are being carried out in a temporary location. But, thanks be to God, our permanent home is not far away from being completed. Once we are in the new church building we will be able to continue and expand the current ministries. Truly Christ is in the construction! I recall a congregation that I visited in South Carolina about three years ago. They were meeting in an old building > St# SALT, Pag# B3

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MAKING A REAL IMPACT

Indianapolis y< •C. for confe

By BRANDON A. PERRY Staff Wrlttr /• When one opens the * Bible and turns to the Old Testament books of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and Joshua, they will discover that the character Joshua went from chief assistant to Moses, chosen spy, to bi field comma™ ultimate He was “caller It’s safe to say that Joshua’s legendary resume will not be copied by any of the nearly 40 young individuals from Indianapolis churches who recently traveled to Washington for the 2002 Impact Conference. But those who attended the biannual event were given a tough question that’s critical to today’s social climate: Will they, the emerging leaders of African America, prove “to be a Joshua generation? Or will they continue to wander in pursuit of material gain or passing pleasure?” More than 2,000 high school students, college attendees, young career adults and developing ministers accepted the challenge posed by the Impact Conference, which adopted “Called to Lead” as its theme for this year. Participants pledged to spread the message of Christ, make positive changes in society and provide positive

leadership for the nation and world. Impact, an 11-year-old Christian evangelical movement of Black college students, is an outgrowth of Campus Crusade for Christ, one of the most successful evangelical organizations on U.S. campuses. Every two years, the organization holds a national conference to rally and connect a growing network of Impact groups. Rev. Charles Gilmer, Impact’s founder, says “a generation focused on Jesus Christ” needs to address “the problems of the African-Ameri-can community.” Young men and women representing churches and universities from all over America descended on the Washington Hilton and Towers Hotel from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1 to join each other in praise and to develop strategies that can be used to maintain both a productive Christian life and fruitful

Youth from Indianapolis churches traveled to Washington D.C. for the 2002 Impact Confaranca. (Photo/B. Perry)

approach to evangelism. The Teen Ministry of Eastern Star Church gathered a large group of youth for the conference. They were joined on the bus ride by Christians from outside the congregation, especially youth from Mount Carmel Baptist and First Baptist Church North, along with students from Ball State University, IUPUI and Butler University. During the conference, this Indianapolis delegation had an opportunity to participate in activities that many said revolutionized their relationship with Christ. They experienced afternoon sessions that gave them a forum to discuss and cultivate Christian approaches to such pressing issues as faltering faith, career choices, educational concerns, early credit card debt, dating/sex, time management, spiritual counterfeits (false preachers) and witnessing to non-believers, among other topics. Participants had the chance to actually apply what they learned about evangelism to the “real world.” Several groups went out into the rougher neighborhoods of Washington to share the Christian gospel. The youth did encounter some people on the streets who did not know Christ, and others who said they were already Christians but pleased to take the free boxes of food that were passed out to residents in lowincome areas. At morning and evening gatherings, audiences appeared to be electrified and enlightened by nationally-known speakers such as Dr. Crawford Loritts, Piustor Keith Battle, Dr. Rene Rochester, Dela Adadevoh and James White. From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., those w ho were still energetic and not ready to return to their hotel rooms went down to the Coffee House, where they were able to see Christians their own age perform as singers, musicians, poets and dancers. Amanda Williams, an interpretive praise ► Sea YOUTH, Page B3

Reader response to 'Muslims love Jesus too'

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AMsIam in America By Imam Mikal Soahir

Dear Mikal, By now, you should know that I love and respect you, and would never purposely say anything simply to offend you. Nor do I ever want to make spiritual issues a matter of debate. I doubt that anyone hits ever been convinced of another's position as a result of a debate; usually, that form

of communication merely causes the participants to become more adamant about their own positions. Therefore, it is essentially of little value except perhaps to those wavering folk who have no convictions. At the same time, when you're talking about my Lord and Savior, as you did in that column, I feel compelled - not to try to debate you - but merMy to respond to your comments. 1 guess my only real question to you, sir, would he, “How can you possibly love a liar and deceiver, and hold him in high esteem?" Jesus did claim to he the Son of God, and the Bible does speak of his existence before the world began. There-

fore, if you do not believe that to be true, you would have to believe that he was either a liar and deceiver or he was insane. Either way, he would certainly not he one to be numbered among the true prophets or men of greatness. Of course, by discounting the Bible and seeing it as only the writings of men who were a part of Jesus' deception, you could say that its claim in the deity of Jesus is in error. But then, you would still have no reason to honor this one whom we Christians call “I-ord" because you wouldn't be able to trust that any of the rest of what the Bible says about Jesus is true. ► Saa AL-ISLAM, Page B3

N • S P O R T S IN THE SPIRIT

Rav. Donald L. Colder, pastor of Temple of Praise Assembly, joined his congregation last Sunday as they celebrated the first worship service at their new location on Meadows Drive. (Photos/C. Guynn)

Samantha Payne, a member of Broad Ripple High Schools' Golden Singers, preformed at the Annual “Twelfth Night Tree Burning Celebration". Payne enjoys the heat from the burning Christmas trees. Proceeds from the event went to the Julian Center to benefit women and children In crisis. (Photo/John Hurst)