CONVERGE convergemagazine.com
Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #40038603
The Top
UFC Unfit For
Christians?
Vampire
Lust
SUMMER 2011 | Issue 2
10
super heroes
Food Addiction GOSPEL FOR
PORN STARS KEVIN ROOSE:
UNDERCOVER CHRISTIAN $3.50 CDN
Leadership Special
Are you you ready readytotomeet meetwith withGod God Are
inaalife-transforming life-transformingfusion fusionof oflearning learning in andpractice? practice? and
How about having 54 acres of lush waterfront waterfront How Howabout abouthaving having54 54acres acresof oflush lushwaterfront property asyour yourclassroom? classsroom? propertyas as your classroom? property Kaléo is anCollege eight-month foundational leadership program of Camp Briercrest College and Camp Qwanoes have partnered create Briercrest Camp have partnered toto Briercrest Collegeand and CampQwanoes Qwanoes have partnered tocreate create Qwanoes and Briercrest College & Seminary. Prepare for top-tier freshmanKaléo: eight months top-tier freshman-level Bible instruction, Kaléo: Kaléo:eight eightmonths monthsofof oftop-tier top-tierfreshman-level freshman-levelBible Bibleinstruction, instruction, level Bible instruction, leadership training,opportunities, front-line ministry opportunities, leadership training, front-line ministry opportunities, and outdoor leadership training, and outdoor leadership training,front-line front-lineministry ministry opportunities, and outdoor and outdoor adventure that will exceed the limits of your imagination. adventure that will exceed the limits your imagination. adventure adventurethat thatwill willexceed exceedthe thelimits limitsofof ofyour yourimagination. imagination.
www.kaleo.ca • 1-800-667-5199
. 1-800-667-5199 www.kaleo.ca. .1-800-667-5199 www.kaleo.ca 1-800-667-5199
MONCTON MONTREAL TORONTO Wed Oct 5 @7PM
Thurs. Oct 6 @7PM
Fri. Oct. 7 @7PM
OTTAWA
Mon. Oct. 10 @7PM
WINNIPEG SASKATOON EDMONTON CALGARY
Thur. Oct. 13 @7PM
Fri. Oct. 14 @7PM
Sat. Oct 15 @7PM
Mon. Oct 17 @7PM
For more info, ticket outlets, group pricing go to UniteProductions.com
FEATURING
BRIAN MCLAREN
Tqfblfs!boe!bvuips!pg! Everything Must Change!boe Generous Orthodoxy
CHANGECONFERENCE
Other speakers include: Greg Paul and Carolyn Arends PLUS Skype interviews with Shane Claiborne and Stephen Lewis For a complete list of speakers visit ychange.ca
EARLY BIRD RATES
(BEFORE AUG. 24 OR FIRST 200) * early bird registrations include lunch
GENERAL : $55.00 STUDENT : $45.00
REGULAR RATES (AFTER AUG. 24)
FOUNDATIONS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 10TH AVENUE ALLIANCE CHURCH, VANCOUVER
GENERAL : $65.00 STUDENT : $55.00
TO REGISTER GO TO YCHANGE.CA OR CALL 877 700 3130
. r date Bette . r price Bette ll overa . r e t t Be ience exper
THE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
September 29 - 30, 2011 | growingleadership.com/summit
ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 - 30, 2011, leaders representing an amazing diversity of denominations, cultures, ethnicities, and vocations are coming together to develop their unique leadership gifts. The Global Leadership Summit is simulcast across Canada from coast to coast. Register today! growingleadership.com/summit | 800.804.0777
HOwARD ScHULTz ERwIN McMANUS MIcHELLE RHEE DR. HENRY cLOUD BILL HYBELS SETH GODIN REv. DR. BRENDA LEN ScHLESINGER President, Senior Pastor, Innovator, Founder, Bestselling Author, Bestselling Author, SALTER McNEIL President, Starbucks Willow Creek Cultural Architect StudentsFirst.org Leadership Renowned Blogger Christian Speaker, Babson College Corporation Community Church Consultant Thought Leader
MAMA MAGGIE GOBRAN STEvEN FURTIck JOHN DIckSON Founder & CEO, Lead Pastor, Director, Centre for Stephen’s Children Elevation Church Public Christianity Ministry
43
16
contents
6
Editor's Letter
8
From You
28
28
32
Cover The Unlikely Disciple
30 Church
Taboo Ministries
10 Appies
Good Eats in Canada
11 How To
Create an Effective Morning Routine
12 Culture
Vampire Lust
14 Sports
UFC: Unfit for Christians?
16 Live Chat
Parachute Band
18 Top Ten
Religious Superheroes
20 Feature
Leadership
32 Ministry
Trafficking: A Social Timebomb
36 Style
21
38 Health
Food Fight Outdoor Summer Fun Farm Midafternoon Stretches Alternative Activities
44 Have You
Read? Heard? Seen? Checked out?
48 Last Word
Explore LIFE learning at PRBI where... You learn to establish a Biblical worldview Spiritual truth comes alive in relationship Character is developed in community Your gifts and calling are revealed through service www.prbi.edu / 1.800.959.7724 Box 99 Sexsmith AB T0H 3C0
nice to meet you
Editor
SHARA LEE
shara@convergemagazine.com
Creative Director
Sales Director
CARMEN BRIGHT
JEREMY MILLS
carmen@convergemagazine.com
jeremy@convergemagazine.com
Special thanks to Patricia Lim and Sarah Cui.
contributors
Grace Lau is a photographer based in Vancouver, BC Canada who specializes in creating fashion, beauty, and advertising imagery. Her eye for unique angles coupled with her creativity in capturing different emotions aid in creating a set of images perfectly suited for any need
Nick Schuurman lives in Cambridge, Ontario where he works as a pastor, a farmhand, and a poet of sorts. He loves bicycling, breaking bread with folks he loves, reading books out loud, camping, and watching documentaries. Nick is a graduate of Heritage College, where he studied Theology and Intercultural Studies.
Gavin Fisher is a recent graduate of UBC, where he studied two of his greatest passions — Literature and Religion. During university Gavin wrote for the culture section of the student newspaper, and also wrote a blog about religion on campus. He is teaching English in Taiwan for the summer.
Robyn Roste lives and works in Abbotsford BC. She loves writing — especially when there’s a punchline. Her goal is to make complicated concepts interesting, informative and fun to read. She strives to understand the world around her and finds no greater joy than discovering new friends and exciting ways to relate to a relevant and an ever-present God.
Jeremy Postal is a writer, speaker, snowboarder, and rockclimber living in beautiful British Columbia. He is the director of a Bible and discipleship school in Whistler, BC and has a few good mountain stories to prove it. Jeremy loves his family, hates his Twitter account, and is neutral towards coffee.
Stephanie Ip is a freelance writer and photographer from Vancouver, B.C. She holds a B.A. in English literature and family studies from the University of British Columbia and a certificate in journalism from Langara College. Stephanie loves all things related to music and popular culture and can be really geeky sometimes.
Miriam Miller was born in Italy, raised in Canada and has also lived in the USA and Europe. Eventually planting roots on Vancouver Island, life changed dramatically within the past five years getting married and becoming a mom! Miriam uses writing to journal, blog; to storytell, and to offer solutions to people on a spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and social level. Her favorite colour is purple.
Also Jason Burtt, Rebekah Funk, Jonathan Luesink, Zhen Zhen Kim & Michelle Sudduth
converge 02 | Summer 2011 Christian Info Society 2nd floor 107 E 3rd Ave Vancouver, BC. V5T 1C7 t: 604.638.6007 1.888.899.3777
Opinions expressed in CONVERGE magazine are not necessarily those of the staff or board of Christian Info Society
TO SUBSCRIBE subscribe@convergemagazine.com TO SUBMIT letters@convergemagazine.com GENERAL INQUIRIES info@convergemagazine.com
Twitter: @converge_mag Facebook: Converge Magazine
editor’s letter
DEFINITIONS
A
friend of mine once struck up a conversation with a smartly dressed man who was smoking a cigarette under an awning outside a shabby looking movie theatre she often frequented. When the two had developed a rapport she asked what his profession was. He smiled a little then chuckled. “I’m a dishwasher.” She scanned him now from head to toe with renewed interest. His hair was impeccably styled, his shirt was crisp, his pants perfectly pleated. “I don’t believe you,” she blurted. “It’s true,” he shot back. “I worked as a kitchen dishwasher for ten years. One day I realized this dull dishwasher also had a nose for interesting things.” The first thing he sold online was an antique ukulele for $100. After that it was simply buying and selling. By and by he amassed a small fortune. “How you define yourself is what is important,” he added. Some people define themselves by their careers. Others by their race or gender. Many more people just enjoy ‘reading’ other people. So clichés and stereotypes thrive: the angry black man, the man-hating feminist, the high achieving CEO. Unfunny. Superficial. Quite sad. If our Creator God has His say — each and every one of us is fearfully and wonderfully unique. In this issue you’ll find a section on leadership. Leadership for us, as you will discover can by no means be narrowly defined. What is interesting about leaders is that no two are the same. Regardless of profession or background, true leaders all exemplify greatness.
6 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
Tara Teng, the reigning Miss Canada, is so much more than a beauty queen. She is a passionate social justice advocate and an ardent believer. In her down time she’s a self-proclaimed “barefoot, long hippie skirt, free flowing hair kind of person.” I’m certain those aren’t the only things that define her uniqueness and greatness. Ian Nsenga is no less a formidable leader yet is completely different from Teng. The experience of losing his father at a young age to the Rwandan genocide drove him closer to his faith and propelled him to start making music, specifically music that inspires others. In ‘The Unlikely Disciple’ you’ll learn how Kevin Roose had his own ideas of what Christians were like before he actually got to know some. When he first met a group of evangelicals on a journalistic assignment at a church and told them that he was a nonbeliever he noticed that they began to relate to him differently. They, no doubt, had their own preconceived ideas about non-believers. Instead of being put off, he decided to go undercover as a Christian. He was curious what he could learn from these young evangelicals. What he discovered shattered all his long-held stereotypes of Christianity. Be careful with definitions. They can hurt. They can even destroy. On the other hand, they can help and they can inspire. And if you dare to define yourself (and others) the way the God of all creation sees you, it is altogether a beautiful thing.
Choose Redeemer. Committed to your ACAdemiC SuCCeSS through: • A high-quality education in a Christian environment • A place for you to find your passion from over 70 different majors and minors • Personalized academic planning • Personal attention -everyone will know your name!
st n the be fe! li iss out o Don’t m your academic of e c n e ri expe
! odAy t y l ly p p p p a A a/ eemer.c d
www.re
exCeptionAl ClASSroom environment offering: • Unparalleled interaction with world-class faculty • A 16:1 Student/Faculty ratio • Mentoring services to help you excel, graduate and succeed in your career!
An A+ CAmpuS AtmoSphere providing: • A safe and secure environment • Unique townhouse residences • An increasingly diverse and multi-denominational community • Outstanding athletic and recreational opportunities
Hope, BC | 604.869.5353 | info@ squeah.com
ACCESSIBLE. PRACTICAL. TRANSFORMATIONAL.
Master of Divinity Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation Doctor of Ministry
Theological College Converge Summer Ad.indd 1
5920 Iona Drive Vancouver, BC V6T 1 J6 604.224.4308 www.carey-edu.ca
4/26/2011 2:09:22 PM
social prophetic message to both christians & general public worldwide
now available at
amazon
Part of the sales during the summer, 2011 will be donated to the earthquake and tsunami relief in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures in Japan
WRITE US!
from you
letters@convergemagazine.com www.facebook.com/convergemag www.twitter.com/#!/CONVERGE_mag
spring
2011
issue
your tweets I found it interesting and a bit humorous that Brett McCracken describes how Christian hipsters are quick to toss out traditional expressions of faith and relate more to secular hipsters than with those “traditional” evangelical fuddy duddy folks. Do Christian hipsters really delude themselves into thinking that their faith is the cutting edge in Christianity? I grew up during the 1960’s and 1970’s in a hippie town in New Mexico as the little sister of a couple of hippies and witnessed first-hand a generation who rebelled against what the previous generation had taught, believed or said. The results in my brother's and sister’s generation were very sad. Do you Christian hipsters really want to dump out the wisdom of those older evangelicals just because they don’t look and talk the way you think they should? Let’s not delude ourselves that Christians haven’t been involved in defending the poor and downtrodden since the dawn of the faith.
-jill c. farris
I just read an article in your magazine called “The Religion of Masculinity” by Jeremy Postal. I thought it was great, and this is from someone who either losses interest very quickly or doesn’t have time to sit down and read an article because I have young children. I thought it was well written, very thoughtful and thought provoking. I found myself making mental notes of some of his points so that I could bring them up in some of my ‘girls night’ discussions. I thought it was interesting for both men and women readers. Hopefully I’ll be finding more of his writing in future editions of your magazine.
-renice
edmison
I saw that article on mullets. While it was funny, are those 10 people what Converge magazine calls Christians? Perhaps they would all call themselves Christians (probably 90 per cent of Americans would I imagine) but it’s quite a stretch for me.
seeketchum: @CONVERGE_mag I’m gearing up for the next edition! Excited about the future of the mag and all its prospects. #ItsGonnaBeGood misstarateng: @CONVERGE_mag I really enjoyed our chat yesterday! :) TroyNeilsen: @JeremyPostal that reminds me. put out 6 @CONVERGE_ mag out in the lobby last week. There is only 1 left 2day. I’m sure it’s from your article missionsfestvan: Got ours and it’s awesome! RT @CONVERGE_mag: Come get your converge mags @ missionsfestvan BCStudentForum: Reading @CONVERGE_mag this morning! Check out article re: @jaesonma by @shara_lee! Kudos!
-jim murphy
ORPHANS AT RISK YOUTH TEACH ESL DISCIPLE SHARE THE GOSPEL TASK TEAM INITIATE IDEAS ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT OFFICE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION DEVELOPMENTAL AGENCIES ARTICULATE YOUR FAITH NEW LANGUAGES FOREIGN LANGUAGE PHONETICS CHURCH MUSIC PERFORMANCE MUSIC CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SOUL CARE PASTORAL CARE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS MENTORING YOUTH PASTOR INTERCULTURAL STUDY SOCIAL AGENCY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH HUMAN SERVICES COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES CHURCH MINISTRY DRAMA PERFORMANCE THEATRE TRANSLATION CONSTRUCTION BOOKKEEPING TEACHER ESL TEACHER PAINTER SECRETARY CONDUCTOR BIBLE TRANSLATOR SUPERVISOR NANNY RELIEF WORK SPIRITUAL FORMATION TRANSFORMATION LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THEOLOGY CHILD YOUTH CARE WORSHIP GLOBAL STUDIES MISSIONS EVANGELISM GREAT COMMISSION ORPHANS AT RISK YOUTH TEACH ESL DISCIPLE SHARE THE GOSPEL TASK TEAM INITIATE IDEAS ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT OFFICE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION DEVELOPMENTAL AGENCIES ARTICULATE YOUR FAITH NEW LANGUAGES FOREIGN LANGUAGE PHONETICS CHURCH MUSIC SOUL CARE PASTORAL CARE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS MENTORING YOUTH PASTOR INTERCULTURAL STUDY SOCIAL AGENCY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH HUMAN SERVICES COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES CHURCH MINISTRY DRAMA PERFORMANCE THEATRE TRANSLATION PERFORMANCE MUSIC CONSTRUCTION BOOKKEEPING TEACHER ESL TEACHER PAINTER SECRETARY CONDUCTOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC BIBLE TRANSLATOR SUPERVISOR NANNY RELIEF WORK SPIRITUAL FORMATION TRANSFORMATION LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THEOLOGY CHILD YOUTH CARE WORSHIP GLOBAL STUDIES MISSIONS EVANGELISM GREAT COMMISSION ORPHANS AT RISK YOUTH TEACH ESL DISCIPLE SHARE THE GOSPEL TASK TEAM INITIATE IDEAS ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT OFFICE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION DEVELOPMENTAL AGENCIES ARTICULATE YOUR FAITH NEW LANGUAGES FOREIGN LANGUAGE PHONETICS CHURCH MUSIC PERFORMANCE MUSIC CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SOUL CARE PASTORAL CARE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS MENTORING YOUTH PASTOR INTERCULTURAL STUDY SOCIAL AGENCY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH HUMAN SERVICES COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES CHURCH MINISTRY DRAMA PERFORMANCE THEATRE TRANSLATION CONSTRUCTION BOOKKEEPING TEACHER ESL TEACHER PAINTER SECRETARY CONDUCTOR BIBLE TRANSLATOR NANNY RELIEF WORK SPIRITUAL FORMATION TRANSFORMATION LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT HEALTH CARE THEOLOGY CHILD YOUTH CARE WORSHIP GLOBAL STUDIES MISSIONS EVANGELISM GREAT COMMISSION ORPHANS AT RISK YOUTH TEACH ESL DISCIPLE SHARE THE GOSPEL TASK TEAM INITIATE IDEAS ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT OFFICE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION DEVELOPMENTAL AGENCIES ARTICULATE YOUR FAITH NEW LANGUAGES FOREIGN LANGUAGE PHONETICS CHURCH MUSIC PERFORMANCE MUSIC CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SOUL CARE PASTORAL CARE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS MENTORING YOUTH PASTOR INTERCULTURAL STUDY SOCIAL AGENCY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH HUMAN SERVICES COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES CHURCH MINISTRY DRAMA PERFORMANCE THEATRE TRANSLATION CONSTRUCTION BOOKKEEPING TEACHER ESL TEACHER PAINTER SECRETARY CONDUCTOR TRANSLATOR SUPERVISO Calgary, BIBLE Alberta • 1.877.YOUnRMC • enrolment@rockymountaincollege.ca • www.rockymountaincollege.ca
Is your journey taking you where you need to go? Why wait?
be change.
Rocky Mountain College
appies
GOOD EATS IN CANADA From the freshest seafood to guilty pleasure greasy burgers, Canada deserves a golden spoon for food. We've asked around and tried some of what this country has to offer in the way of food. Best of all these eats are affordable.
The KEBABery Whitehorse, YT Middle Eastern
Argo Café
Vancouver, BC Fusion Diner
Chocolate Moose Fudge Factory Moose Jaw, SK Coffee, fudge & dessert
Gahan House Pub Brewery & Mercantile Charlottetown, PE Pub Grub
Mucho Burrito Regina, SK Mexican
Caribbean Spice Winnipeg, MB
Stash Café Montreal, QC Eastern European
Caribbean
Tamarind Vietnamese Grill & Noodle House Calgary, AB Vietnamese and Thai
Five Guys Burger and Fries
Fredie's Fantastic Fish House
Brandon, MB American fast food diner
Senior's Steak House and Restaurant Toronto, ON Steak, Ribs, Seafood & more
10 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
Halifax, NS Fish & Chips
HOW TO create an effective
morning routine 1 Eat early. Try to have dinner earlier than you usually do. If you’re planning on making a big meal, save extra of certain ingredients for the next night’s meal. (Check out Miriam Miller’s Plan a meal Plan from our Spring issue for a guide and recipes on how to do this).
2 Cut out TV
completely.
If you’re having trouble, limit yourself to a half hour sitcom. If you’re feeling gutsy just cancel your cable.
Mornings are tough for most people, but they don’t have to be. They should be a time for reflection, introspection, and above all a time to connect with the creator. To create an effective morning routine, you cannot start the morning you decide to make a change, the secret to blissful mornings begin with restful nights.
4 Give all worries to God and trust that he will take care of whatever is on your mind.
5 Before you doze off think
7 Sleep early.
To be truly rested, try to get at least 7-8 hours of good sleep time. Oh and don’t forget to set that alarm clock.
about why you are making
a commitment to be an early riser. Maybe you want to get in that extra cardio time for much needed endorphins. Perhaps you feel you’ve neglected your spiritual life and want to spend time with God. Whatever the reason, keep it in your mind and commit to it before falling asleep.
8
This will give you ample time to meditate on a bible passage, pray, exercise, eat a hearty breakfast as well as make your commute to work. You may have to ease into this. Don’t immediately attempt to wake up an two hours earlier than usual. Try waking up 15 minutes earlier each day until you get to your desired time.
3 Make time for relaxation.
Allot at least half an hour to wind down before bed. Make sure to turn off all electronics. Some suggestions: stretch on your bedroom floor, drink a cup of tea in silence, read a good book or magazine.
The time you rise is really up to you, but I suggest at least 3 hours before you start work/school.
6 Set alarm and put it far
away from your bed. Far enough so that reaching for the snooze button is not an option.
9
Drink a huge glass of water before you head out the door. This will refresh and hydrate you.
convergemagazine.com
| 11
culture
Vampire lust By Robyn Roste
It’s not like I’m too old for vampires, but I do feel past the point of joining Team Edward. For years I’ve been an apathetic vampire observer but now, as the release of the widely anticipated fourth film in the Twilight Saga looms, it’s time to get engaged.
As a modern society unified in our skepticism of all things unseen it seems strange we’d be so eagerly swept away by a paranormal phenomenon. There must be something about the romance, mystery, and intrigue of the vampire subculture, which manages to overcome even the most valiant doubting Thomas.
Fascination It must be said: there is something unmistakably sexy about vampires. Their complex emotions and violent inner conf licts capture our imaginations. The question of real life or fictional being becomes irrelevant as we find ourselves identifying with different aspects of the vampire’s character. Who hasn’t been at the helm of an ultimate struggle between love and hate, right and wrong, lust and virtue, or some other spiritual or moral battle? Over time our idea of vampires has changed to suit our whimsy. It seems these days vampire characters are created to ref lect society’s portrayal of the perfect gentleman — one that exists in only fantasy. In more superstitious centuries, vampires represented pure evil because they drank blood. As time passed, the tragedy and isolation of becoming a vampire, as best captured in Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, was what interested us. And now thanks to the Twilight Saga, vampires can be nearly human. No longer solely the bad guy, the male vampire is now regarded as the conf licted protector. One who will fight for his love, is able to withstand his powerful urges, and will act in the best interest of his human obsession. Every woman wants to be swept
12 | CONVERGE.
spring
2011
off her feet in a supernatural romantic adventure with someone who wants her, and only her.
Hesitation But do the vampires in film and in popular culture really represent the ideal man? And do the relationships had by vampire male and human female represent healthy and functioning partnerships? Definitely not. In HBO’s True Blood, for example, there is scene where the protagonist Sookie is drained of blood by her vampire boyfriend. When she is revived her vampire apologizes profusely and tells her he loves her. It is implied that the act was an uncontrollable “vampire urge.” The Twilight brand is also quite troubling as the series seems to praise emotionally controlling relationships. First Bella isolates herself from her friends, then she tries to control her impulses so as to suit Edward’s troubled nature. “My blood was racing and I wished I could slow it, sensing that this must make everything so much more difficult,” she says to him. When he leaves her, she is completely void of a will to live. Bella remains at home without friends, and even contemplates suicide. It doesn’t take a psychologist to see that is unhealthy behaviour. The book and movie justify Bella putting herself in dangerous situations just to be with Edward. She is always on the verge of harm as Edward constantly represses the urge to hurt her. If these are the ideal relationships represented in our society, we definitely have a problem.
Temptation Vampire/human love has been compared to forbidden fruit — a mismatch, an abhorrence, a deal with the devil. But as is all things forbidden, it only makes us want it more. Although he may be desperate to be virtuous, there is a dark evil within the vampire, which makes him more powerful and dangerous than he first appears. A wolf in sheep’s clothing if you will. It is this very drama associated with vampire human/love that makes the plot so exciting. There is an appeal to danger. It is after all why women are attracted to rebels.
Real love On some level, we all long to be loved with a deep intense passion defying logic and reason. And the vampire character seems to give that to us. Vampires are a metaphor of our own personal struggle with good vs. evil. It’s a way we can put words and emotions to our fears and feelings and to deal with things we don’t understand. Our fears are rarely rational and our feelings are fickle and unreliable. Passionate and obsessive love may seem like salvation, but the Bible says love is different. “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them,” (1 John 4:16 NLT). Who else but God can offer this kind of love? Will anything else be enough to fulfil your deepest longings and desires? Concepts of fascination, temptation, and hesitation can be applied to many different aspects of life. Don’t get swept away. Pay attention to the red flags and ask questions.
Summer Hands On July 1-11 Land $1100 USD
Feast of Tabernacles October 9-19 Land $1199 USD
summer programs 2011
g
od calls us closer. To meet Him. To enjoy fellowship with Him and become what we were created for. Part of this process is intentional, worshipful learning.
GTA: 416-324-9133
Come to Regent College this summer and study with men and women from around the world. Alister McGrath on postmodern apologetics David Gill & William Edgar on jazz—a Christian take Marva Dawn on suffering Bruce Waltke on the Psalms Mark Noll and David Livingstone on Science and Christianity. And that is just the beginning… there are 50 courses in all! May—July.
www.regent-college.edu/converge 1.800.663.8664 Vancouver convergemagazine.com
| 13
sports
UNFIT FOR CHRISTIANS? By Jeremy Postal Throughout my life I’ve watched many hours of television that made me feel guilt, embarrassed, and a little dirty. I once cheered a Toronto Maple Leafs goal, I’ve secretly viewed the Fox News Network, I’ve grimaced through a TV preacher or two, and I’ve even watched a few minutes of Glee; all things I’m not proud of. In fact, these are all good indicators that it was the Devil who invented television. The Ultimate Fighter produced by the (Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC), however, is no such show. Traditionally the television, and more importantly the remote, has been in the firm and unquestioned control of men. But times are
What UFC president Dana White knows and what MMA marketers are tapping into is the instinctual and God-given urge for men to discipline themselves, conquer, and win against all odds. Part of what MMA is doing is speaking the heart-language of men and putting words, thoughts, and actions to the things we already feel. A drive to achieve, to be at the top of our game, to be honoured among our peers, to work hard, and to feel confident even if we’re wearing tights and taking a beating. And while some dudes stuff their tights to feel bigger and better about themselves, it takes a lot more than an extra sock rolled up or
What is so alluring about gold chains, cauliflower ears, and tribal tattoos? changing. In Canada, women on average watch five hours/week more television than men. That’s not all that’s changing; men’s television viewing is changing from hockey, baseball, and football. It now includes the rising star of UFC and mixed martial arts (MMA) action. In fact, during a 2006 major league baseball playoff game, more men aged 18-34 tuned into a UFC pay-per-view event to watch Tito Ortiz defeat Ken Shamrock by technical knockout. Millions of young men tune into these fights and I’ll bet that includes most of the few remaining young guys left in your church who skip Bible study on Fight Night. Why do so many young guys, Christian or not, love watching superfit dudes in tights grapple and hug each other until someone bleeds or taps out? What is so alluring about gold chains, cauliflower ears, and tribal tattoos that men don’t even notice the watered down beer served up at a fight? How come dudes hardly look twice at the UFC girl in a bikini? I’ll tell you why, we like a good fight.
14 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
a lifted truck to actually live bigger and better lives. Discipline, hard work, and mutual respect aren’t the types of things you can pretend or fake. Standing up for the oppressed, fighting injustice, and loving your family aren’t actions done only when felt like it. Like MMA, being godly and manly is a lifestyle that should drive men day in and day out. True, UFC and MMA events do get a bit of a mixed review among the church crowd. Instead of fists and elbows flying, Bibles and verses fly with each side trying to defend engagement or avoidance. Whatever corner of the cage you find yourself in, the fact remains that our young men enjoy and connect with MMA. And, I’ll put some money up on this one too, I bet the young men in your church would put up with a watered-down church if they had a reason and a cause to fight for. I bet they’d get in the cage and go a few rounds if only they could get a sense and feel of why they’d even bother. And I bet if a few good guys led them, well, the rest would follow.
where am i going? what skills will get me there? how will i share my dreams? who will i bring with me?
www.prosago.com | 1-800-461-6523
PARACHUTE BAND
From left to right: Callum Galloway, Elliot Francis, Jeremy Gregory, Sam De Jong, Omega Levine
By Shara Lee
Converge Magazine caught up with Parachute Band members Sam De Jong, Omega Levine, Elliot Francis, Callum Galloway, and Jeremy Gregory on a cloudy Tuesday afternoon at a quaint coffee shop in old Fort Langley. Originally formed in 1995 by De Jong’s parents, Parachute Band is in its second generation. Sixteen years later the band continues to perform for people all over the world. The band opened up about their vision, their “rivalry” with Hillsong United, and what they saw in Christ Church. Take us back to the beginning:
ferent personalities and a whole lot of different backgrounds. And obviously we’re Sam: Parachute Music was started in 1989 from different churches, but that’s what’s by my parents and it’s a music ministry that really cool. Being around people for so long is set up to champion and encourage and up- that kind of becomes your family. You share skill Christian musicians in our country. It’s your lives, your struggles, and also the good been going for 22 years now. One of the big- times as well. You get that bond that comes gest things we do is the Parachute Festival. just from touring and that’s something that Around 25,000 young people come in tents for doesn’t really happen outside of that traveling four days for a summer music festival. There’s ministry life. over a hundred local bands and a whole bunch of international headliners as well, so it’s an Do you guys have family? amazing time. A group of people did that for like 10 years, my parents and some other peo- Sam: None of us are married. It’s not like a ple. In about 2006 it really felt like it was time prerequisite for the band but it’s something for that to finish and to change and to morph. that we look for in new people just because It just felt right to fully transition the thing the schedule has been so crazy. Last year we over to this next generation, keep the same toured for about nine months, this year was name, heart, but different sound and differ- a little bit less but still we only go home for about a week or two then it’s back out again. ent people. How do you feel you’ve come together as a band in terms of unity and vision?
What was it like self-producing because you did it for your latest album?
Jeremy: I think the band has a unique thing. Sam: It was really cool. In some ways it wasn’t You’re kind of thrown into a whole lot of dif- a really big change because in the first two I
16 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
was very involved as well. For this one I felt that I had the confidence and the ability to do it. I made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot of stuff along the way but it was a really freeing process. Do you feel any sort of rivalry between you and Hillsong United? Omega: No we’re really good friends with those guys. They’ve taught us a lot over the years. I remember when we first played and we were backstage talking to Joel [Houston, leader of Hillsong United] and he was just encouraging us to stay true to ourselves, stay true to the music that we have. They’ve been a big inspiration to us. We’ve gone over to their church and played a couple of times so we have a great relationship. There’s no rivalry at all. Sam: Them and Delirious are the two bands in a similar field that we’ve looked up to and aspired to do what they’ve done. Except we do have rivalry when it comes to sport with them. We had a wrestle at our festival and we
won. They said that we cheated, but we had a wrestle in the middle of our 25,000 crowd. We wrestled them, even though they’re a lot bigger than us. Christ Church. Talk about the earthquake and how you’ve responded. Omega: It was so close to home and we have a lot of friends down there. We were singing this one new song off our latest record, “You Remain” and the lyrics really impacted the people of Christ Church. It was almost like it was prophetic over that city. It really hit us hard as a band. Sam: It was so powerful getting to lead worship down there. Hearing them scream out these songs of worship after what they’d been through just ministered to us as much as it ministered to them. We were blown away that in the midst of such tragedy they were able to cry out to God. And it’s like Psalm 34, God is close to the brokenhearted and he’s right there and you can feel it. You can feel that he hadn’t abandoned them even though it looked like he had. We went down kind of apprehensive but we left quite encouraged about the future and its just amazing to be able to do something. Jeremy: I think it’s also one of those things that you don’t really get an idea of what it’s like until you actually went down. Definitely felt a bit helpless like you can’t really do anything and you just want to go down there like anybody else and help people. To go down was a real honour. Elliot: To have something to offer was a great thing. On TV they’re saying do not come here because you’ll just be in the way. And to see these horrific images on TV and when you have friends and family down there, you feel connected because it’s so close but you feel so disconnected because you’re not allowed there. It’s hard to sit and be watching and then go get a cheese burger and then watch a funny TV show cause of what people are going through right at that time. It was a real privilege to actually have the opportunity to go down and be a bit of a breath of fresh air for some people. What do you see your role as a band? Sam: Our new album is called Love without Measure and we’re so passionate about it because it’s like a like a real mandate that God has put on our heart which is to use your art to share the message of Christ’s love. We have a platform, we can influence people toward helping and understanding the concept of love, understanding the way in which we were loved. Understanding there’s a crazy imbalance and a crazy need in the world and there’s something every one can do about it. We’re realistic in that we’re just five boys but
we also know we have a big platform. Can you talk about music as a tool for ministry? Sam: I think art is most powerful when it’s transparent, when it’s honest. The best artists are the people who have the ability to express what’s on the inside of them in a way that can’t be expressed otherwise. We see music as an incredibly powerful tool. It can change the atmosphere of the room, it can break down walls that people put around their hearts, it can soften people, it can pierce into the hearts of people, or stir people towards action. We’ve seen someone like Bono can speak into people and governments ears to get them to debate about issues. Because he has the platform of his art, people respect him for what he does. Were you guys in a band in high school and what musical instrument did you play? Omega: I was in a band. You know Incubus? We were like a cover band for Incubus and I was the singer/drummer. I had a humongous afro. Sam: I had to play flute for a little bit but I
We see music as an incredibly powerful tool. It can change the atmosphere of the room . . . or stir people towards action. -Sam De Jong
hated it. [After] my exam for entering music school they assigned me the flute cause I scored quite high but then I quit after a week. I was like no way. Elliot: My parents said that me and my brothers had to play recorder for two years before we could learn any instrument. Jeremy: I played saxophone in the school orchestra, but I got kicked out cause I could never hit the notes right. So I got demoted to percussion. Sam: That’s not a demotion man, it’s a promotion.
sible with the crew. We get together, one person reads a scripture and we pray with each other. Not every day but we try to do personal ones every day. Callum: I’m not a morning person. I just ignore everyone and generally come across as very grumpy. So I just do my thing, get my coffee, and go straight to the event. What were you each afraid of as a child? Sam: I’m afraid of dogs. My granddad had a golden retriever which is like the friendliest dog and it bowled me over when I was very young, and now if I see any dog I freak out. Omega: I’m afraid of eating spicy food. My brother gave me 10 of those spicy chilies and said they were tomatoes so I ate them all at once and it burnt my mouth for a couple of hours. So I’ve kind of tried to stay away from spicy food. Elliot: I didn’t enjoy theme parks. Yeah I was scared of theme parks. And at primary when kids would pick up worms and spiders and stuff? No deal. I could not take that, I was just like, that is disgusting. Callum: Australians don’t fear anything. We’re just generally quite confident. Jeremy: Clowns, definitely clowns. We’ve got the AMP show which is a really bogus circus kind of thing and the clowns there are just horrific. I’m still scared of clowns today. Guilty internet obsession? All: Facebook. Callum: Skype. Guilty celebrity obsession? Sam: Jessica Alba. Omega: Mine would have to be Johnny Depp. I just think he’s the man. Elliot: For the last year and a half I’ve been a huge fan of this Korean pop band called SNSD. It’s awesome.
Callum: I did win a state competition for our choir. We all had kazoos. So we did one song with kazoos. We just pulled them out, and it’s all very formal but it was quite interesting in that demographic.
Jeremy: No comment
What is each of your morning routines?
What is your unofficial role of the band?
Omega: On the road we’re all pretty busy. If we’re playing, I’d get up, do some warmups, for half an hour or 20 minutes, then go get breakfast with Sam, go get Starbucks or whatever. And then we’ll go down to the venue and get ready for the night. Sam: We try to do devotions as often as pos-
Omega: I’m the social network system
Callum: I actually don’t have one but Jeremy Gregory, his obsession is Keri Jobe.
Sam: I guess I’m the leader. Elliot: I set up the merch table. Jeremy: I’m the janitor.
convergemagazine.com
| 17
SUPER HEROES
It may not have occurred to most people that your average cape clad, spandex sporting superheroes are men and women of faith. Religious affiliation in the superhero universe has never been a well publicized subject, but faith plays a major part in the character development of these heroes. They do after all fight for the oppressed and against the unjust (which translates as very Christian-like behaviour). Comics from time to time reveal clues to the faith of these characters. Sometimes it is explicit, and other times it is implied. We hope you enjoy our list of Top 10 superheroes.
SPIDERMAN* When your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman isn't catching thieves like flies, he embraces intimate moments with God. Marvel tells us that Peter Parker was raised by his Protestant Aunt May, and is sometimes shown spontaneously praying or having inner dialogues with his maker. With superpowers like web flinging, super-strength, and skyscraper scaling, Spiderman makes our list as number one.
LARRYBOY He! Is! That! Hero! This brave cucumber of steel comes from the creative mind of Phil Vischer, co-creator of VeggieTales. When he's not defending the veggie citizens of Bumblyburg from mischief and wrongdoing deeds, he plays with gadgets that would rival James Bond's and attends super hero class. Following the teachings from the "Super Hero Handbook" (also known as the Bible,) LarryBoy reminds Bumblyburg that "God wants us to be nice to people!"
MR. CHRISTIAN If his name itself is not enough to make the list, then his super-strength, flying skills, and beams of light powers should definitely earn him a spot. As a former atheist, Jonathan Paul Christian was shown the unconditional love of God and was later approached by an angel named Ezekial who gave him this choice: Either take a staff that would transform him into a warrior of God in the battle of evil, or just walk away to live his life as a normal human. Seeing that he made this list, he obviously chose the right option.
ROGUE* Rogue is not your average girl-next-door. She just happens to be a mutant Southern Baptist girl-next-door, possessing the ability to absorb another's psyche and abilities through skin to skin contact. She's often portrayed praying, talking about angels and demons, or discussing omens. Warning: Be careful when praying with this Baptist fille. With your eyes closed you might not notice her tap on your shoulder. Suddenly she's got your memories and dreams.
*Marvel and all related characters, TM and (C) Marvel Entertainment LLC and used with permission. Sources: http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/comic_book_religion.html Mr. Christian and Revelation are original characters, TM and (C) Christian Knight Comics. LarryBoy and related VeggieTales characters (C) Big Idea, Inc. Care Bears (C) American Greetings/Those Characters from Cleveland
REVELATION While Martha Eden may seem like your regular adventurer and youth counselor, raised with Christian values as a child, you'll soon find out that God has given her the special gift of revelation. She is able to see into people's pasts, look at their present events and dive into their future to help reveal His power and truth to the world.
DAREDEVIL*
ASLAN The "Great Lion" of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis is not your typical superhero. Though he dons a wild mane rather than a cape, he provides strength and leadership to those in need. Seen as a hero to the magical creatures of Narnia, he is a figure of otherworldy authority and brings righteousness to his land. All that aside, Aslan's story parallels that of Christ. Author C.S. Lewis has mentioned that Aslan is what could be the incarnation of Christ Himself.
Despite the name and the horned red costume, Daredevil is Catholic. The comics and movie show the blind hero to be faithful to God by revealing his religious nature through scenes of confession. He is even referred to as a "good Catholic boy." So why is this guy so cool? He's a lawyer but also a vigilante. While blinded by a radioactive substance that gave him his powers, his other four senses surpass human levels. We’d also like to point out that he has radar sense and can kick bad guy butt with his acrobatic martial arts skills.
VENOM*
ELEKTRA* Elektra is one of those superheroes that is religiously questionable. She has been said to have been raised in a Greek Orthodox family (in the comics her father's funeral service and the clergymen were very much Greek Orthodox). Though she seeks to defend the innocent and bring the bad guys to justice, she goes about it in the least compassionate way: she assassinates them.
We'll admit it: Venom is not exactly the superhero type. No, he does not bring you the warm and fuzzies, nor does he rescue the neighbourhood cat stuck in the tree. He really should have joined LarryBoy in super hero class because somewhere down the line he missed the memo on letting go of anger. But before you start protesting know this: Alter ego Eddie Brock is a man of good virtue who, as shown in comics, worships in a Catholic church and goes to confession. He fights for what he thinks are good causes and really means well. It was during a dark period of abandonment and betrayal in his life, that the alien Venom Symbiote crept into a shadowy crevice of Eddie's mind and took over his body, giving him rather creepy superpowers that rival even those of Spiderman.
THE CARE BEARS If the Care Bears aren't a prime example of Christian love, teaching children far and wide the power of good virtues, then you can Care Bear stare me out of here. They are heroes because of their honest teaching and darkness fighting. They also have the power of being extremely cuddly and their tummy tattoos would probably get approval from even the strictest of mothers. Together their tummy symbols can shoot rays of light and good cheer to bring love and joy into the hearts of enemies.
LEADERSHIP lead • er :
1. The person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country 2. A person followed by others
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” -Theodore Roosevelt
20 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
The profiles we’ve compiled in the following pages show people in various leadership capacities who prove that leadership is not just about earning a special title or climbing high enough on the corporate ladder. Real leadership is all about being excellent with the gifts God has given you.
tara teng the justice miss •How did you first get involved in pageants? I was studying at university and I mentioned to a friend that I had come across an article about the Miss British Columbia pageant. He was just like, “You gotta do it.” It was really a way for me to challenge my fears and just step outside of my comfort zone for something I’ve never done. I went to the interview, got accepted right on the spot, and then three days after that I left the country and I Tara Teng, Miss Canada 2011 spent a month in Guatemala and Honduras, studying Spanish and teaching English. It was amazing, and I think that was really just more and I broke up with him. I remember having one night where so God. He puts these things in perfect timing ahead of us before I was sitting in my room in my apartment just wondering, how did we even realize. I get here? This wasn’t my plan. And in that moment, it was so clear, I could just hear God say, “Tara, you’ve done it your way, are you •What exactly did you see when you were there? ready to finally try it my way?” Up until that point God had always been there but he was kind of like a side deal, almost a hobby. I saw things you just don’t see here in Canada. You don’t go to the city garbage dump and see people picking through it to find enough •Who or what inspires you? to survive for the day. Seeing things like that really makes you reevaluate a lot in life. Holding infants that are literally skin and William Wilberforce really inspires me. He was a British parliabones not because their parents don’t love them or have abandoned mentarian of the 1700’s-1800’s and he abolished slavery within them but because they just can’t afford to feed them. And it really the British Empire. He was an amazing man of God and he litermakes you think about the idea of social justice. And what does it ally gave his life. He achieved the abolition of the slave trade then mean to be a Christian and these questions that I had on my heart died three days later. He was sick and dying the whole time. When for years. But all of a sudden these weren’t things I was reading I got to Montreal for the Miss Canada pageant in January, we all about anymore, it was right there in front of me. sat around the table with all the other contestants and they asked us “What would you do if you were Miss Canada?” My answer was the same. I said if I’m Miss Canada I’m going to do the same thing i m not the high heel makeup I was doing when I was Miss British Columbia, I’m going to try to end slavery and human trafficking. If I don’t win I’m going to keep type most days doing the same thing.
’
.
•Do you have any future aspirations or career goals? •Why pageants as a platform, and did you have social justice on your mind before this trip?
End slavery, that’s my career goal. I don’t know, God’s been bumping me in different areas and even in the last year this has been a huge learning curve, I never spoke in public before this year so that has been really stepping me out of my comfort zone. I just want to be wherever God wants me to be and I’m hesitant to say what that is because I just don’t know and I just want what God wants, and I want the courage to step into that, whatever that is.
Pageants are not something I’ve ever done. I’m really more of a barefoot, long hippie skirt, free flowing hair kind of person. I’m not the high heel makeup type most days. Pageants were really just something God put in front of me. I did it originally to challenge myself because I was tired of living in fear and I just had such a hunger for whatever God had for me. They asked me one question as I filled out a biography for the website. They said, what would you •What makes a good leader? do if you were Miss British Columbia? And I knew without a doubt I was going to use this platform to talk about human trafficking and I think what makes a good leader is someone who can take leaderoppression of women and individuals worldwide. ship from others and someone who really fights for others and lays down their life for others. I know that kind of sounds cliché but •You wrote on your blog that you lived as a Christian in theory but it’s really really true. A good leader knows all the people on their not in action, can you talk about that? team, they have a vision, they know what they’re fighting for and who they’re fighting for and then they commit to it completely. My dad is a pastor. One of the churches that we were with, things happened and I was really hurt by the church. As a 15-year-old, I •Who are you in your down time? was just like, if this is the way that Christians treat each other then I’m out. I knew what I was doing was against God’s plan for me but I I think the one word to best describe me, the essence of who I am just didn’t care. It was just my selfish “I wanna live for me, I have my is actually my Chinese name which is Oi Kwan, and it means loves life on my terms, I have this job that I love and this great car, and groups of people. I was given this name as a child at two years old. this great apartment, and this great boyfriend who I love” attitude. I wasn’t born with it, my parents named me after my personality I was just totally self-centered. really came out. And that’s just who I am. I have my close group of friends and we share a common love of Jesus and justice and we’re I ended up leaving my job and having trouble paying for the car, the compelled to see those two come together in whatever way God cellphone, and the apartment. I finally started to see how my rela- brings them together. I don’t have a lot of down time but I actually tionship with this guy was unraveling. It just wasn’t working any- recharge from those quality time relationships with people. convergemagazine.com
| 21
jonathan luesink the urban missionary Jonathan Luesink and his wife Jill in Prague.
By Jonathan Luesink (Avant Ministries) Five years ago, while on a short missions trip in Bolivia, God started a cascade of change by asking me the clear question, “Would you consider becoming a missionary instead of being a pastor in Canada?” It was easy to say ‘yes’ to the considering, but it was much harder for my wife and I to do the hard work of pondering. Four months later, an answer presented itself in the form of a prototypical church planting philosophy that Avant Ministries was just beginning to experiment with. Short Cycle Church Planting displayed the type of lean thinking and creative flexibility that gave me the confidence that this team approach would be a great match for us and our gifts. After nearly 12 years in youth ministry I was beginning to come to grips with the shallowness of my prayer life, and my lack of trust in God to do more than I could personally organize or invent. As we were accepted by Avant and asked to join the next team heading out to the Czech Republic, a nation with only 0.25 per cent of the population enjoying Jesus as their savior and shepherd, my faith life began to awaken to the challenge. Did I really believe in the power of the Gospel to change lives? Surprised, I began to catch myself in embarrassing moments during our support raising. When answering the question, “So why are you going?” I would blurt out, “To be given the opportunity to experience how amazing God’s power is!” Then sensing I had overlooked standard missionary protocol I would hastily add, “and to see people saved and churches started.” We’ve been deployed as a team in the Czech capital of Prague for two-and-half-years now, and you’d have to reread a hundred newsletters to appreciate the scope of how often we’ve been witnesses of God’s power, and always after concentrated times of still, concentrated prayer. For certain we’ve been surprised that living in a city with two Ikea stores to choose from still inflicted culture shock. Doubly disconcerting is the constant reminder that Czech is one of the top ten hardest languages for English speakers to learn. When spiritually
22 | CONVERGE.
summer
2011
curious Czech friends express a frustration at not having enough English and we not enough Czech to discuss such complex heart matters, its frustrating to be impeded like this. When dear friends disclose that they don’t want to discuss spiritual things with us any more, it’s disheartening. Usually the team’s eternal optimist, I was at my most melancholy point only just last month. So, we decided to practice what we came here to learn. We memorized, meditated on and acted on Colossians 4:2-6. Wonderfully we found ourselves invited into what we’re calling the ‘glory cycle’. As we pray and ask, God opens doors. As we speak, He gives us the right words and more cool stuff happens! Not surprisingly, after this pause for prayer, God suddenly dropped in our laps an enormously surprising opportunity to share the love of God with a large group of our dearest non-believing friends in a powerful and moving way. On the heels of being discouraged, we now have the wonderful opportunity to follow up with those friends
after nearly
12
years in youth ministry
i was beginning to come to grips with the shallowness of my prayer life. who have expressed interest in studying the Bible with us, and to be alert with those whose spiritual curiosity is being awakened. And to top that all off, all the learning of these two-and-half-years is combining in this moment with new ideas about how to spark communities of faith such that we can now see our way forward more clearly than ever before. I find myself very confirmed about why I’m a missionary in Prague, to enjoy this ‘glory cycle’ which leaves us saying, “Wow God, can you do that again? It’s fun watching you show off!”
IAN NSENGA the hip-hop visionary Can you tell me a bit about your childhood and upbringing? I was born in Nairobi, Kenya and at age four, I lost my father to civil conflict in Rwanda, after which me and my family immigrated to Canada as refugees. In Canada, I had the unique experience of growing up in the “ghetto” neighborhood of a government housing project while attending a Dutch Christian private school. My childhood consisted of a multicultural flavored community and struggles to fit in a new world so alien to the one I left. I experienced good times in both worlds sharing my cultural values and style and learning both the good and bad of Western culture. I was not a big fan of the snow growing up in Hamilton, Ontario but adjusted and learned to adapt quickly to my new environment. I grew up with a young brother, an older sister, and an older cousin whom I considered a brother as well. Our mother raised us with faith and prayer and always opened our home to others expanding our family to many at times. Did anything in your upbringing drive you to create this business?
What does leadership mean to you? The meaning of leadership to me is the act of servanthood. I believe one must learn to be a server in order to be a leader. Leadership is also sacrificial. One must have humility. Leadership looks at the best of others and is constantly learning, advancing and sharing. The best leaders are those who can duplicate themselves and pass on the torch.
ian nsenga is the chief operations officer for movement affiliated design
Tell us about the connection between God and music. My mother always told me that God was my father when I grew up fatherless. I believe that God has a major part to play in music, and my music. God is the life force that drives our passion to create. I believe our inspiration comes from God. There is no other force that can bring such power and passion through music but God. He is the master of love and life.
entertainment, a boutique multimedia production company that offers music and entertainment opportunities . he is also doubles as creative, a budding hip-hop artist illuminating the music industry with a unique blend of crosscultural beats .
Who inspires you? I am inspired by many people in my life but none more than Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It may sound cliché but it is his love and complete humility that inspires me. Knowing that there is a greater life after this paved by Him inspires me. My mother is also a big inspiration as she has always stood by my side and impacted my life through her faith and prayers.
I have always loved music. I grew up in the hip-hop and r&b era where R.Kelly, Puff Daddy, Tupac and B.I.G dominated the charts. My love for music only grew as I immersed myself in the culture of its roots. My upbringing definitely played a large role in my hunger to develop, produce, and expose talent not just for myself but others. What advice would you give to other aspiring There is a quality that music brings when entrepreneurs? it is inspired and growing up I have always wanted to bring that element out. I wrote a song called “Stay Up” and the hook said: "Keep ya head up and never go down Explain the vision and Mandate of MADE. every time you do it, you be doing it now!” I would say to aspiring entrepreneurs to stay To provide opportunities for artists and focused and encouraged in their goals and businesses to showcase products and visions. Never let the downs keep you there talents to new markets through a series of but look up as perseverance is developed connected events and creative productions through trials and tribulations. Also add a in collaboration with local and international faith element to your life and know that it entertainment and media firms. We aim to is not only by your own power that you can bridge the creative communities of LA and make an impact. It is also important to keep Vancouver and to leverage our resources to good company and never forget your family connect with the Asian communities on both and relationships. Keep your good values. sides of the Pacific.
Favourite bible passage:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 17
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
19
Habbakuk 3:17-19 convergemagazine.com
| 23
PHIL VISCHER the innovator phil vischer proves that good ideas don’t have to be conventional. as the co-creator of
the
popular
veggietales
series
vischer
animated bible stories with computer generated vegetable characters. now he’s taking on a new project called what’s in the bible. by combining animation with puppeteering and a few other styles, he has created an entirely new genre for sharing the gospel.
Take us back to the beginning. How did you get started with computer animation? I always loved animation and computers, but didn’t see how they fit together until the film “Tron” came out while I was in high school. I started reading up on this brave new world, and was able to enter it through a job at a video production house in 1987, at the tender age of 20. When did you decide you could use your animation to tell Bible and morality stories?
telling specific Bible stories, but it wasn’t a good format for actually explaining the entire Bible, or defining tricky terms like “redemption,” “sanctification,” or “justification.” I started looking for a way to take kids much deeper into their faith in a very educational, yet still enjoyable, way. After watching some really fun old Disney educational films from the 50s and 60s, and the work of Jim Henson on Sesame Street and the Muppet Show, I decided to launch a new mixed-media educational series to walk kids all the way through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
Some of the early animated music videos on MTV inspired me to combine my love of an- Are the stories just for children? What can imation and technology with my passion for 20- and 30-somethings get out of the series? God’s Word, which seemed conspicuously absent from our television. Frankly, we all need to learn this stuff! Who wrote the books of the Bible? Why do How did the idea for VeggieTales come about, we think we can trust them? What’s with and why vegetables? all the weird rules in Leviticus, and why do we still follow some today, but not others? In 1989 I started looking for characters that Why was it “okay” for the Israelites to kill could easily be animated (i.e. no hair, no all those Canaanites and take their land? clothes, no limbs), and settled on a candy All of these answers are locked away in combar. I brought him to life, but then my wife mentaries and theology textbooks that, unsaid, “You know, moms will be mad if you fortunately, the average Christian will never make their kids fall in love with candy bars.” even pick up, much less read. Rather than The next thing that popped into my head trying to coax people into reading some rewas a cucumber. ally dry books, I’m bringing the knowledge out of the books and putting it into a format Tell us a bit about What’s in the Bible. a whole family can enjoy together. VeggieTales was a wonderful format for re- Why this mixed media approach? You have
24 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
characters ranging from muppets to paper cut outs attached to popsicle sticks. Variety. Since we aren’t just telling a single story all the way through like I did with VeggieTales, I decided we needed to “mix it up” with various segments and various techniques to keep kids engaged. It’s sort of like Sesame Street and The Muppet Show go to seminary. You were the voice of Bob the Tomato; did you do any voices on this project? Actually, at the moment I’m performing all the voices in the new series. It’s a whole lot of fun, and since I’m the boss, no one can tell me I can’t. What do you hope the series will do for children? For adults? Our kids need a foundation for their spiritual lives. Half of adult Protestants in the US can’t define the word “grace,” which was pretty central to the Protestant Reformation! Our children are walking away from church in unprecedented numbers. We need to make their faith real to them. We need to thoroughly explain it so they know what it means to be a follower of Christ, and know how to live their faith in front of a watching world. If their parents come along for the ride and learn a few things as well, even better.
“I started talking to small businesses. The best way to learn is to talk to other people,” recalls Reineger. “What I was trying to understand from them is what their struggles were. What was happening was that small businesses, in their effort to solve their time and money problems, were typically doing things that made their problem worse. So we knew that we had to build something that brought strategy and execution together in a way that was really simple and it didn’t cost very much time or money.” It was through asking these small business owners that what their problems were that she developed the Silver Lining Action Plan, a software program that helps entrepreneurs keep track of their goals and progress. Despite her business growing fast, as a young entrepreneur herself, she had her own start-up struggles. There were cash flow problems and times where Reineger asked to borrow large sums of money just so she could make payroll. She tried to do it on her own but could not keep up. “I thought that shouldn’t ask for help because it would make me look weak, and I made all sorts of classic mistakes around that,” Reineger says. “There’s been lots of people that have helped me, but typically one of my biggest mistakes was that I only reached out during crisis times. I didn’t get proactive help — I got reactive help.” It was ultimately an assessment of her own personal life that she attributes to saving her business. Reineger says she had to take a hard look at the way she was living. She carefully examined five areas of her life: career, emotional/mental health, physical health, spiritual health the start up wonder ,and relationships. After a proper realignment of her life Reineger was able to run her business effectively. Carissa Reineger helps small businesses grow. “We’re She says her spiritual role has a big role to play in her kinda like Weight Watchers. That’s the best analogy. We life and it is also an aspect of her life that she’s never help small business owners set their goals and then help them reach them,” she says. Her company, Silver Lining Limited was established one of my biggest six years ago out of a belief Reineger had that small busimistakes was that i only nesses didn’t need to sacrifice making money for doing what they loved. reached out during Head hunted shortly after completing her Psychology degree at the University of Alberta, she was given a posicrisis times tion as the director of business development at an advertising agency. In this executive role, she found herself tried to hide. Reineger says the relationships in her life among colleagues who were much older and difficult to are very important to her — both relationships with identify with. “Most of the people my age were interns friends as well as one with God. so I wasn’t hanging out with them,” says Reineger. “The Reineger has authored four books, two of which are people I was working with were 50-year-old men. So about business and the other two are about relationthere was this disconnect and I wasn’t really making ships and dating. Despite not wanting to get too personfriends at work.” al, Reineger admits that being successful does have an As a young person in need of a social outlet, Reinimpact on a person’s ability to have a relationship. “Not eger started attending networking events. “Where do necessarily for better or worse,” she says, “but it creates you show up by yourself and not look like a total loser?” a different reality for sure.” laughs Reineger. “Networking events were kind of what Reineger now owns 80 per cent of Silver Lining Ltd, I thought.” When she started going to these small busihaving sold 20 per cent of her company last December. ness events she met entrepreneurs who were passionate She continues to believe in her company’s mandate to about what they did, worked hard, but typically were not help empower small business owners in doing what they making any money. “They were struggling. I wanted to love. “Eighty per cent of our clients hit their goals,” she help them, so I quit my job and started Silver Lining.” says. Undoubtedly the key to Reineger’s own success is Reineger saw the opportunity and took it despite the that she has found a way to do what she herself loves. fact that she knew very little about how she was going “The coolest thing about Silver Lining is the people we to help these business owners. “That’s part of entreprework with. Every single day all day long we’re working neurship, you have no idea what you’re doing most of with people who are passionate and who have taken a the time,” comments Reineger. What she did have was big risk to follow what they love,” says Reineger. a belief that there was something she could learn from — Shara Lee everyone.
CARISSA REINEGER -
.
convergemagazine.com
| 25
SUBSRIBE TO
CONVERGE ONLY
*6 issues a year Subscribe online or email us at: subscribe@convergemagazine.com converge is a faith based magazine for the culturally curious and spiritually driven who strive to find their purpose in god.
find us on facebook & follow us on twitter @converge_mag
CONVERGEMAGAZINE.COM
THE UNLIKELY DISCIPLE by shara lee
28 | CONVERGE.
summer
2011
The Christian world is sometimes accused of being a little cliquey albeit not intentionally. Sometimes we try too hard to assimilate nonbelievers and other times we shy away from, or even condemn those who have opposing views. Kevin Roose, a then undergraduate of Brown University felt compelled to penetrate that world when he enrolled at Liberty University as an undercover Christian. He figured the only way to find out what evangelicals were really like was to observe them in their natural environment. Naturally, there was no better place to do this than the campus that evangelical giant Jerry Falwell himself had founded. Roose immediately strikes me as a down to earth typical 20-something year old. Like the many driven Gen Y-ers of our time he’s actively trying to carve out a path for himself in this world. His first project, and the one I’m speaking to him about today is called The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s guide to America’s Holiest University which garnered critical acclaim from both Christian and secular media outlets such as Playboy and Christianity Today. Now he’s working on a nonfiction project about young investment bankers. I have to call him back on his landline because his cell phone reception isn’t optimal. When I reach him there he makes a joke about being the only person under 40 in New York with a landline and we have a good chuckle over that. He’s a really pleasant sounding fellow when we start chatting and very soon I feel like I’m talking to an old friend from university. It was on assignment for the esteemed A.J. Jacobs, editor-at-large of Esquire and author of the book The Year of Living Biblically, that Roose got the idea for the book. He was chatting with a bunch of young people at a church that he had attended with Jacobs. When the subject of faith came up and they found out he wasn’t a believer, the mood shifted a little. Roose decided then that he’d like to explore the God divide not between hardcore Republicans and Democrats but with young people his own age. Of course the first question that’s on my mind is how as an undergrad he ended up in the company of Jacobs. “He was working on this book and I wrote him a letter saying he was one of my favourite authors and if he ever had need for an intern, I would come to New York and work for him,” recalls Roose. “He wrote back and said, funny you should ask, I’m working on this book about trying to follow all the rules of the Bible and I’ve been really struggling with how to follow the parts in the Old Testament about slavery, so you can come and be my intern, but I have to be able to call you my biblical slave in order to fulfill that requirement.” And that was his foot in. “On my resume I put research assistant, but really I was his slave,” says a self-deprecating Roose. Jacobs was a major inspiration for Roose whom he says is “the Paul” to his “Timothy”. Roose says he didn’t know what to expect. “I thought I would get there and they would all be sort of radical frothing-at-the-mouth conservative stereotypes who just spent all their time in dark rooms plotting theocratic takeovers. I had no idea how complex and rich and multitextured this world would be,” says Roose. “I thought it was going to be a collection of sign waving placard toting bigots. I felt pretty certain in that view because I had never been around anyone who challenged my stereotypes.” In the book there’s this funny sub plot where Roose starts to develop an interest in this girl whom he describes as a Tina Fey look alike. It’s funny because he’s caught in this awkward scenario where he takes her on a date but doesn’t quite know how to behave. That is in part due to the fact that he’s disguising his non-Christian-ness but also in part due to the fact that where he’s from, in his opinion, chivalry is pretty much dead. “I don’t know many people in New York City for instance who would do the thing from old time movies where they lay their jackets down on the puddles so the women can walk on them,” says Roose. He says he felt a little torn with the entire situation. The dating scene at Liberty is undoubtedly more traditional, but on top of that, it’s a school in the South where social graces are quite enforced. “It
was totally foreign,” comments Roose. Added to that Roose states that “no matter how well the date went and how smooth I was, and how many compliments I paid this girl, there was no way I was ever going to be able to make a move. I could’ve been Jake Gyllenhaal and still she would not have been receptive to that because of her moral leanings.” Despite Liberty’s strict rules, Roose found there was something freeing about the entire experience. At Brown which was an ultra liberal university, where students had the freedom to choose their own courses Roose felt more pressure. Because a lot was already decided for you at Liberty, there was a surprising freshness to it. “I imagined that this would be a college filled with down-trodden depressed Prozac taking Christian students, but everyone was really happy and that threw me off and eventually I came to see a logic in that,” says Roose. “At Brown, there was basically total free will. There were no required courses, you didn’t have to get grades if you didn’t want to, it was the most permissive system possible. In a way that’s very stressful because you have to make all your choices yourself.” What Roose says is quite true. When it comes to student satisfaction surveys, the religious schools always seem to rank the highest. “At Liberty where lots of things are
rallies and music lovers revel in at packed concerts. At church revival gatherings, youth rallies and Christian rock concerts you often share in the energy of the crowd. Usually though, there’s also that little something else which most in the Christian world call the Spirit. “I had a lot of experiences where I found myself questioning deeply whether or not they might be right, whether or not the people around me might have tapped into something or someone that made them happy and fulfilled and whether that was worth trying. There were moments where I found myself floating away from my belief. That was scary at first and to some people that would be considered a divine experience, that I was being either convicted or inspired by God,” says Roose. “I don’t know what to call that, I don’t consider myself an evangelical now, but I do appreciate the feeling and know what it feels like to be pulled very strongly towards a belief system.” Evangelical or not, there was one thing Roose had to do before his time at Liberty was up — meet and interview the father of the institution: Jerry Falwell. “I was scared to meet Jerry Falwell because in my house growing up, he was the ultimate bad guy. You almost didn’t say his name if you didn’t have to, it was like Volde-
“I was going out and doing a lot of speaking about the book and talking to a lot of groups and some people would always come up to me and say, ‘Well, I have a job or I’m in school, I can’t go ship myself to Liberty University or Brown University, I can’t get up and physically experience this other culture but I wish there was some way that we could do what you did,’” explained Roose. “So my publisher came up with the idea of giving books away to pairs. One member of the pair had to be on one side of the cultural and political spectrum and the other one had to be on the other side. So if you were a liberal Jew, you find a conservative Jehovah’s Witness, and if you watch Glen Beck every night maybe you find someone who watched Rachel Maddow every night and by doing this, you talk about the book or whatever and you come to discussing why it is that it’s so hard for people to communicate with people who disagree with them . . . respectfully.” These days it seems people have more things to disagree with than to agree on. Even Roose himself admits he has to watch himself. It’s just too easy to adopt an ultra partisan way of thinking. If the media teaches us anything today it is that opinion is what sells. Strong opinions create controversy, ratings, and ultimately money.
I remember being at Brown and the night when President Obama won the election . . . everyone was out there dancing and celebrating and being joyous and I just felt like man, this is what Liberty has, but they have it like three times a week. decided for you, there is paradoxically something freeing about that,” Roose goes on. I ask him to recall the scene on campus, and to think back to what it was like on a typical day or night at Liberty. “I remember being at Brown and the night when President Obama won the election there was this huge rave . . . it was on the main green space of the campus and everyone was out there dancing and celebrating and being joyous and I just felt like man, this is what Liberty has, but they have it like three times a week,” says Roose. “So you’re coming together and you’re celebrating and you’re worshipping and everyone around you sort of thinks and believes and feels a lot of the same things. There’s this phrase, ‘collective effervescence’ and I think that’s very important to understanding why Liberty has been so successful,” Roose goes on. “They cultivate this collective effervescence very carefully. And even if you don’t share the beliefs, its fun to be in a room where [that kind of thing takes place.] It’s a little scary at first, I have to admit, but in the end, I found myself looking forward to those experiences.” That “collective effervescence” Roose describes isn’t difficult to understand. It’s the feeling that partisans experience at political
mort or something. So I went into this meeting thinking this is going to be terrible, this is going to be horrifying but it was actually sort of fun. I don’t particularly appreciate the things that Jerry Falwell did during his life, I don’t agree with him on probably about 99.9 per cent of what he believed but the guy was likable; it was hard to dispute that after meeting him. He was funny, he was charismatic, he was friendly. And so I think it was an important meeting just because I got to experience for myself the appeal of someone like this and how millions of people around the world could see him as an inspiring leader despite the fact that he had some pretty outrageous social and political views. It was sort of seeing the man behind the hype, seeing behind the public image, getting a sense of what else was there and I think that was really important and I’m really glad I got to do it.” The experience at Liberty caused Roose to question deeply where his preconceived ideas were coming from. It also caused him to look more deeply into the God divide. Why was there so much division amongst Christians and non-Christians, Republicans and Democrats and all the rest? Because of these divides, Roose came up with The Jonah Project.
“Difference is profitable, you know, you have one guy yelling on the conservative side on TV and you can put him with a guy who’s gonna yell about the liberal side, that’s much more profitable than having two guys reasonably discussing their differences,” says Roose. “I mean that would be the most boring talk show ever, you know? Conservatives and liberals agreeing to disagree about the driving issues of the day? I think it’s healthy for democracy to break out of your box and meet people who share none of your views. That was so important for me that I wanted to give other people a way to experience that.” It would have been easy for Roose to slip easily and effortlessly back into his old way of thinking and looking at the world but these days he’s trying to keep more of an open mind. “I still try to expose myself to people whose opinions I disagree with,” says Roose. “I have opinions and I think I’m right but I also know that if I don’t get in touch with the other side and hear them present their views themselves then my brain turns that whole side of the country and [that side] of the world into cartoon characters. I think that’s really unhealthy so I have to constantly struggle against it. I think we all do.” convergemagazine.com
| 29
CHURCH
TABOO MINISTRIES By Gavin Fisher
Ever heard of a Porn Bible? It’s not what you think. This so-called “Porn Bible” is really just the Gospel of John — except with a more provocative cover. Instead of the typical leather-bound version, this gospel has the image of a stereotypical porn star with aviator glasses and seventies ‘stashe on the front, above the words “Jesus Loves Porn Stars”. Now imagine a group of passionate Christians going to sex shows, handing out these Bibles, and telling both the people who consume and produce porn that Jesus loves them. Amanda Carrasco is one of these people, bringing a message of love and hope to those affected by the porn industry. Carrasco is a mother of three children from Surrey, British Columbia, who founded Taboo Ministry or XXXChurch Canada in 2009. “It’s a mission that you don’t need vaccinations for,” Carrasco laughs. Carrasco is passionate about bringing awareness and healing to the issue of pornographic addiction. “One of the biggest things about this whole industry,” Carrasco says, “is it’s all this big secret. Nobody’s ever going to know you were looking at porn, nobody’s going to know you were in porn, nobody’s going to know anything. As long as we don’t talk about it, as long as we don’t address it, the darker it gets and the more it destroys people. Let’s bring this stuff into the light — this shouldn’t be taboo”. Carrasco’s journey from stay-at-home mom to anti-porn missionary began when she stumbled upon xxxchurch.com, a site created by Craig Gross in 2002 to provide
30 32||CONVERGE. CONVERGE.summer summer2011 2011
resources to those affected by the adult entertainment industry. Carrasco was struck by how the XXXChurch team were sharing the message of Jesus, even in porn shows and strip clubs. “It was still pretty radical to me, to go into porn shows and go into these places, but it makes perfect sense,” Carrasco says. “These people aren’t going to come to the church. They’re not going to randomly show up one day, so we’ve got to go to them”. Soon Carrasco felt the inkling to reach people in her own city at the Taboo Naughty But Nice sex show which takes place annually in Vancouver. “I just kind of started following the [XXXChurch] ministry and what they were doing, and didn’t think much of it until the Lord said to me one day, there are porn shows here”. Carrasco got in contact with XXXChurch, and after convincing them she was serious enough, she had the daunting task of raising $13,000 to pay for the Bibles and resources needed for the show. Taking a leap of faith, Carrasco immediately put the amount on her credit card and then began fundraising to make it up. By the time the show rolled around in November 2009, she was able to lead a team and hand out over 3,500 Bibles in two days — all while 38 weeks pregnant. Carrasco and her team just recently attended the Vancouver Taboo Naughty But Nice show for the second time in January of this year. The response overall has been positive. Rather than being shunned, Carrasco and her team have
often been warmly received. “You go into the porn show and people are very real,” Carrasco says, “you have real, authentic conversations with people and they will give you the f lat out honest truth”. Carrasco says she was also surprised to find out that many people did not even know that Jesus loves them. “I thought others always knew but just didn’t get it,” Carrasco says, “but these people literally did not know, they literally thought that Jesus didn’t love them”. In April Carrasco took her ministry to the Taboo Naughty But Nice show in Red Deer, Alberta. Carrasco and her team are also participating in a number of events this year to continue to raise funds for Taboo Ministry. Their vision is to be able to go to more sex shows across Canada and create connections with churches that are local to the shows, to be able provide a solid support base for people who need help. “That’s what we’re looking for — more churches that are standing up and saying we want to love people and help them get freedom, whether they’re consumers or producers or involved in the industry” Carrasco said. For Carrasco it’s all about forming relationships with people and showing them that Jesus loves them. “That literally is what changed my life. Knowing that Jesus loved me regardless of what had happened to me and what I had done,” Carrasco says. “Now I’m just trying to do the same thing for others. If he can do it for me, he can do it for them too”.
1.888.468.6898 acts@twu.ca www.acts.twu.ca
Essential Training for Christian Service.
COME TO SCHOOL IN
WHISTLER A BIBLE & DISCIPLESHIP SCHOOL
whistlerschool.com convergemagazine.com
| 31
MINISTRY
TRAFFICKING: A SOCIAL TIME BOMB By Zhen Zhen Kim
What if there were 30 million single men with no prospect of marrying because of a serious shortage of women? A 1994 UN report predicted that very scenario. At least 30 million men in China by 2020 could be resigned to a lifetime of singleness.
34 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
T
he gender imbalance in China resulting from the legislative restriction of one-child per family and the cultural preference for sons carrying on the family name is fuelling the trafficking of women and children from China, Mongolia, North Korea, Russia, Burma, Laos, and Vietnam. Women are forced into marriages to impoverished farmers and even into situations of sexual market exploitation by their husbands. Understandably therefore, “the Golden Triangle,” nestled between Southwest China and South East Asian nations and a region marked by stark poverty, has become a hotbed of sex trafficking. Nearby, a similar horror confronts North Korean refugee women. Thousands are trafficked and sold as brides often into violent marriages to farmers and disabled men in China. Starved residents of a politically unstable North Korea cross over illegally into China in search of food, medical aid, and
to victims. I’ve met women who survived such ordeals and lived to tell their inspiring stories.
Trafficking in the Golden Triangle Mei’s father said she could not continue her high school studies. Her brother would be given that privilege as he had the responsibility of caring for her parents. In tears she ran to her friend. An older woman then took her and her friend to the city. They were treated to a nice meal, placed in a locked room, and left to starve for two weeks. All the screaming did nothing. One day a few men came into the room for five minutes. She had no strength even to speak. It seemed they were inspecting her. Days later, a man came in, paid a fee to her captors and took her. Before he carried her away, he beat her. He was taking her back to his home and did not want her to run away.
spends time convincing mafia bosses and pimps that Jesus forgives them and that they should leave the pimping business. Her work at Mercy Outreach is abnormally intense and high risk. Just one wrong word with a mafia boss could shut down outreach to dozens of women or worse, could put her life on the line. She treads carefully and with total dependence on prayer. “I’m in this work because God called me to lay down my life and even though I’m only a mother of three children, I believe that through the power of Christ it’s possible to abolish sex slavery and all forms of slavery,” she says. Deborah and Mercy Outreach have been working with women forced into prostitution, and with the brothel owners, pimps, and mafia gangs in the Golden Triangle region since 2003. It began with a group of compassionate women who began to walk through the roughest neighborhoods
Left: Canadian Lawyer (far left) with girls at brothel. Right: At a brothel to interview on HIV awareness for a donor funded project. freedom. Many, including men, are captured by traffickers and sold as slaves. In 2010, the U.S. state department listed North Korea as one of the top 13 worst countries for human trafficking (other countries include Congo, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Mauritania, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe). Notwithstanding such a sad human story, I have reason to hope in a just God. The British politician William Wilberforce and his band of friends come to mind. Under their brave and sacrificial leadership, they sparked a movement that led to the abolishment of the human slave trade in the 1800s. In our day, I have witnessed firsthand unsung heroes who are working to end human trafficking and bring healing
Despite her frail, perilous condition, she was punched mercilessly. She was only 14. The man couldn’t afford to marry the traditional way. He had no prospect of marriage any other way. “I’ve paid for you, now you’re my wife,” he grunted. Back in his hometown, he chained her like a dog in his yard. He only freed her for sex. At the tender age of 15, she gave birth to a girl. After years of abuse, Mei finally escaped. Tragically, she ended up in a brothel.
Mercy Outreach A typical day for Deborah* has her doing outreach to women forced into sex slavery, or rescuing a women from the clutches of sexual torture and slavery. Other days she
and pray together for the needs of the area and for God to move in the hearts of the broken women in the brothels. It is now a high impact organization which offers a holistic approach to meeting the needs of hundreds of women caught in the painful web of sex slavery providing HIV/AIDS education, rehabilitation, psychological and medical help, free vocational job training, and, of course, spiritual support. When Mei finally left the brothel, she was 19 and had contracted HIV. She sobbed story to Deborah, a former psychologist. She went through stages of anger and selfblame asking, “Why did this happen to me? Why was I angry with my father?” Deborah gently told her, “You were caught in a web of deception. You would’ve never chosen to be sold and forced into sex slavery.” convergemagazine.com
| 33
WHAT WE CAN DO Redemption
Once a troubled young woman, Mei has found a new reason to live. She has found hope in life again through her Christian faith. She’s in a long process of healing with help from the workers at Eden’s safe home. “Mei is leaning on Jesus and has a lot of people remembering her in prayer. So far she has had no physical manifestations of HIV. This is a miracle,” says Deborah. Official statistics say, and they are difficult to come by in China, that there are 4 million commercial sex workers. Non-profit workers believe the real number is closer to 9 million because the official figures do not include the prostitutes working in KTVs (karaoke bars) or hotels (ranging from 5 star to cheap motels). Alice*, an Eden volunteer, has seen both hope and wrenching despair in their outreaches, including the grim killings of vulnerable girls in the very areas they do outreach. “Every visit to the red-light district is memorable, but their stories are so sad. They tell us about how they were sexually abused as children or raped as 11 or 12-year-olds. There are 14 and 15-yearold girls with absolutely no understanding of the danger they are in,” says Alice. “Since we started the work, three young girls have been murdered and some of them were beaten by customers and left in a desolate place. Still they return to the streets. They believe no one cares. Some have never even heard of the name of Jesus. We must bring His light into this darkness.” In some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in China, Eden is bringing a radical transformative message of hope and reaching girls in great anguish. What’s astounding about this group’s approach from other non-profit organizations in the country is their focus on extending the love of God and compassion which includes rehabilitation and offering alternative vocational options, for traffickers, pimps and those who make a living from selling girls. Eden’s safe home with alternate employment training was one of the first in mainland China to be established by foreigners. Their rehabilitation work with mafia and pimps is not only unprecedented, it’s gutsy.
North Korean refugee women Over the years, I have been moved by news reports of trafficked North Korean women in China who were raped, abandoned, physically abused, and forced into prostitution, labor, marriages or to work for internet sex businesses. I wanted to raise awareness
34 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
unspeakable anguish. Su-jin tells me she then was sold one more time as a bride and sex slave to a poor Chinese farmer. Eventually she escaped and found refuge with an ethnic Korean man who forced her to work in a dance bar, pouring beer for local businessmen in northeastern China. “I was so scared to dance and pour drinks,” she says. Soon after she sought solace in alcohol to escape from her problems. She became an alcoholic and her unhealthy lifestyle caught up with her. She says that she was diagnosed with liver cancer. A few Christians reached out to her during visits to the bar, and after resisting for weeks, she experienced a dramatic conversion. After years of abuse and uncertainty, Su-jin has found peace in God and her newfound faith. She is able to sit still enough to pray, something she was not able to do after she left North Korea. She also regularly reads the Bible and sings hymns during the day when she’s feeling sad or afraid. “I wish my country was where I didn’t lack anything,” Su-jin says with a small voice. One day she discovered the symptoms of her cancer were gone. The doctor confirmed that she was indeed cancer-free. Su-jin believes she was miraculously healed by God. Had it not been for Chen and his courageous group that risk their lives daily to help North Korean refugees, I would not have been able to meet Su-jin and hear her remarkable story.
Pray for God to bring an end to all forms of trafficking Pray for revival in the organized crime syndicate: the Triads, the mafia. Pray for organizations like Mercy Outreach that are bringing healing to women. Pray for strength, protection and finances Pray for revival in China, North Korea and other nations Pray that righteous laws would be enacted that help convict traffickers to the highest degree and bring an end to human slavery
of their plight. One day in 2005, I had the privilege of meeting and praying with some North Korean women refugees who were sold as bride-slaves to poor, uneducated farmers. Because of years of crop failures, a recent flood and poor management, many predict even more North Koreans will try to escape in search of a better life. These people will take the most desperate measures, even crossing frozen rivers barefoot. From 1995 to 1998, it is estimated that two million people starved to death in the country. Several people from North America who have regular access into North Korea say there is a looming food shortage crisis of epic proportions in the nation of 23 million people.
Su-jin After driving for more than three hours, with the help of Chen and his non-profit group, we arrive to meet a refugee named Su-jin*, who has her unwashed hair in an updo. She tells me her story of being sold by traffickers on two different occasions. She looks nervous, and her skin has a dull yellow pallor. First, she tells me, with a face void of emotion, that she was sold for 1,000 Rmb ($144CDN) to a Chinese man. She lived in a smelly cave with her “husband” in northeastern China. The traffickers had lured her from North Korea, promising to give her a job, knowing she desperately wanted to send money back to her impoverished parents. I felt her deep sadness when she spoke of her children, the ones she left behind in the cave. That’s when she begins to cry. She does not mention them by name and glosses over this part of her story, but I can sense the
Mobilizing prayer abolitionists More women like Su-jin and Mei need a dramatic rescue. These women need healing for their wounds, for the human rights violations that take place every time a man rapes them. The trafficking and sale of fellow human beings is not only one of the most egregious human rights violations, it poses the greatest danger in the 21st century to our peace and well-being. More than 27 million slaves around the world are caught in exploitation and abuse today. There are more slaves today than at any other time in history. The prostitution and adult entertainment industry of mostly women and children makes $12 billion every year. Gangs that profited from selling drugs are now selling children and girls. While the situation may seem hopeless, there is a lot that is being done by many organizations like Mercy Outreach. What we can do now is pray. Both for those oppressed, and for those who fight for freedom. *Names changed for privacy.
convergemagazine.com
| 35
H&M tank: $19.95 H&M skort: $39.95 H&M ruffle dress: $39.95 H&M scrunchy dress: $59.95
in her
Models from left to right: Jenn Kroeker, Leah Vairo, Kimberly Rae Photos by Grace Lau
closet
to see more, go to our website at www.convergemagazine.com
36 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
ZARA vest: $79.90 H&M t-shirt: $9.95 jeans: Model's own H&M plaid shirt: $39.95 Levis jeans: $95.00
in his
closet Models: Kyle Burtchett, William Holman
Photos by Grace Lau
to see more, go to our website at www.convergemagazine.com
convergemagazine.com
| 37
life
Dear food,
I just want to take a moment to thank you. When I was lonely or sad I could always count on you. You cheered me up when no one else was around; any time of the day or night you were there to comfort me. If I got depressed because of my weight or how I looked, you know who was there for me? You were. If I wanted to celebrate something, or if I was just plain bored and needed something to do, you were a constant source of activity for me. Thank you for feeding my addiction. Sincerely, Miriam Miller
W
e need food to survive. This fact made it difficult for me to recognize my food addiction. I didn’t have a weight “issue” so it was even easier to justify my abuse of food. My whole day was planned around it. I didn’t eat because I was hungry, I ate because I had a habit that said around a certain time, I should want to eat. And I could eat almost anything, but I wouldn’t feel satisfied until I ate that “thing” I was craving. It might not have been junk food, but it held an experience for me that actually released hormones (serotonin, dopamine) in my brain that made me feel instantly calmer, and in a better mood. Food had become a popular coping mechanism in my life for dealing with a wide range of emotions. For example, if I felt sad, I would eat. However, afterward, I felt guilt which would plant a seed in my brain that sprouted into disappointment or depression, and then I would eat again. Vicious, vicious cycle. The verse: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” nagged at me for years and only in the past half a decade have I been able to figure out why.
The Nature of Food: Nutrition
I
used to say I wish I had one stomach for nutrition, and one for plain old indulgence. The first would digest food good for my body; the other would make the treat food disappear. But then I realized I would probably just eat all day and never accomplish anything. The concept has a jumping off point, however: if we view food as having a destination in our bodies – either to nurture or destroy, it changes our perspective of food. When I found out that pop had phosphoric acid in it, which is a key ingredient in industrial cleaners, I stopped drinking it. I can no longer picture pop as an actual drink, it is poison. Much of our processed foods are literally poisoning our bodies. Just because they sell it on a shelf in a store, or because it comes on a plate in a restaurant, doesn’t mean it is “normal” to eat it. With all the diseases that exist in the human race, it’s easy to think our bodies can’t cope with “life”. But I like to think of it this way: our bodies are so incredible, that even though we poison them with toxic food, and expose them to so many environmental toxins (like car fumes, pollution, etc.), the fact that we can still survive is incredible.
The Nature of Food: Recreation
T
he truth is we weren’t created to just eat food for nutrition. We were given taste buds and a sense of smell to delight in fragrant food. We have creative minds to
tips for healthier eating Buy most of your groceries from the perimeter of the grocery store where the produce and deli are usually located. /// Buy fresh ingredients and look online for recipes you can easily make at home. Cutting out processed food is one of the best things you can do for your body. /// Packaged foods, including sauces and salad dressings are highly processed and contain lots of sugar and/or sodium. Making these things at home helps minimize the intake of unhealthy ingredients, and can often taste much better. /// Sign up for a produce delivery from local farms and be challenged to learn to prepare a variety of fruits and vegetables. /// Start a dinner club with friends that are willing to make healthy meals. /// Keep a food diary for a week and see areas that need improving. /// Researching healthy living might even spark a new passion! combine foods like little chemists, producing just the right reaction. We even have a need to eat more than one time a day! God in His goodness made food as a way to nourish us physically, but to also enjoy intellectually, emotionally, and socially. It’s almost like there is a recreation to food that is by Divine design. When we eat recreationally, it nurtures the mind and soul. When we eat to nourish our bodies, it’s about eating to be healthy and to sustain life. Seeking wisdom from God to keep these two characteristics of food in balance frees us to enjoy food guilt-free. This balance is what keeps us from using food to temporarily fix or cope with our emotional distress.
The Disorder of Food: Idolatry
S
tress, anxiety, disappointment, frustration. These are examples of reasons why food became an idol to me. Food was a popular coping mechanism to deal with these things because I had not made the precious Holy Spirit the most popular way to cope with every moment in life. God has promised us that He is more than sufficient for all our needs. He even says that His Word is
more important to us than the bread we eat. I am settling for an idol made of deep fried potato sticks, when I could have the fullness of the resurrected Christ infiltrate my every aspect of my life. The rebuke about idolatry in the Bible is very strong (see Exodus 20:24, Galatians 5:19-21). God is jealous and he doesn’t want anything to come between us to take His place in my life. Cast your cares upon Jesus for he not only cares for you, but he promises he is more than enough for us to depend upon. In Matthew 6:25-26, Christ says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Winning the Fight
T
he first round of fighting food addiction starts with gratitude. For some it’s a prayer of thanksgiving before a meal, to others, a general attitude. Not only are we grateful that we are able to afford the food, and that (in some cases) someone prepared it for us, but that we are able to enjoy the taste of it. I lived with a woman who was a teenager during World War II and she was very good at conserving things. I threw away what appeared to be rotten vegetables and she was incensed! She picked them out of the compost, carefully cut away at the bad parts and made quite a tasty meal out of what was left. To her, eating was a luxury. She could not forget how lean times shaped her perspective on the preciousness of food. Be “present” at a meal. Smell the food, enjoy the look of it, and chew slowly. This can curb the lustful indulgence that has us asking for seconds and thirds when we have already satisfied our actual hunger. Multitasking when eating makes it easy to not even notice how much we have consumed. Save texting, emails, and phone calls for another time. Even watching a movie or a show during our meal can contribute to a disconnection between the food we are eating, and the body we are nurturing. Good treatment of our bodies enables us to live outside the restrictions of illness and disease, even in our older years. A shift in perspective of the nature of food is a great start, but not quite enough. Creating new habits and lifestyle choices can be a process, but we can gain wisdom from God to help make changes in our lives. We can surrender our anxieties to God, cultivating a dependence on Jesus Christ to cope with life and growing in gratitude and contentment. These things liberate us to enjoy the beauty and divine art of food, as well as making healthy choices for our minds, bodies and souls.
outdoor
life
summer
By Jeremy Postal
T
o survive in Canada you have to be a special breed of person. Regardless of where you live in the country, you keep an ice scraper in your car, you know to never put your tongue on a cold bike rack, and you’ve probably been tempted to try a polar-bear swim in your Canadian flag underwear. Canadians routinely deal with cold, wet, and dark winters that keep us huddled around fireplaces eating snack food and drinking those drinks that warm our insides. Oh Canada, you are cold. Thankfully, most of us begin to thaw out right about the time that the last Canadian hockey team is knocked out of the NHL playoffs. As depressing as this is, it is also a wake-up call that summer is right around the corner! It’s also a reminder that the extra layer of warmth built up from all of those snacks and drinks is making the beach bod
look and feel more like beached whale. There are a lot of things that Canadians could do without in the summer; mosquitoes, no-see-ums, horse flies at BBQ’s, and that nasty watery stuff that college kids drink too much of; Molson Canadian. There is, however, at least one thing that Canadians cannot do without — hitting the beach. Whether your beach is attached to an ocean, a cold and clear mountain lake, a lake in Saskatchewan stocked with leaches, or is one of those lakes you can see from space, the beach is the place to be. Not only is the beach the place to be, it is the place to see and be seen. Of course, not every beach is a meet and greet. Some, like Vancouver’s clothing optional Wreck Beach, are mostly just meat. I assure you, this is not the place to see or be seen. And while most of Canada flocks to its
shores to battle the two months of humidity with icy wobbly-pops and tiny clothes, there are those who prefer to use the long days and warm nights to try other outdoor activities. Let me suggest a few: Hiking: Probably the most underused synonym for the term “hiking” is the word “suffering.” Despite the early mornings, blistered feet, too little lunch, and constantly looking at the butt of the person in front of you, hiking is quite an enjoyable activity. Not only does hiking burn off some of those extra winter pounds, it helps you interact with God’s creation in ways that you normally wouldn’t. If you do decide to go for a hike, pick a trail that suits your ability, bring plenty of water, don’t pee in the stream, and go with some friends of similar fitness level. Also, make sure to pack your swim stuff and some cash because you’ll be hitting the beach and
Want to go deeper in your understanding of God’s Word and make a difference in your world? Prairie can equip you for a lifetime of learning and purposeful service no matter what field God leads you into. We offer programs in Bible, a variety of ministries, healthcare, business, mission aviation, and more.
Scan this code with your mobile device to find out more about Prairie’s programs and opportunities to visit our campus.
www.prairie.edu/more
Box 4000 Three Hills AB T0M 2N0 1.800.661.2425
40 | CONVERGE.
summer
2011
the ice cream stand on the way home. Biking: Besides the few brave souls who commute all year long on their bikes, most Canadian bicycle owners let their tires go flat through the winter. Summer is a great time to feel like a nine-yearold again cruising around town on a bike, popping wheelies, and jumping off curbs. For the more adventurous, get out into the countryside on some technical single-track or gear up for the intensity of downhill mountain biking. Not only is biking a great (read: cheap) date, it is healthy, environmentally sustainable commuter option, and is something you can do with all ages. Before you commit to biking, however, imagine yourself at Wreck Beach. If this image makes you shutter, avoid the bike spandex. Water Sports: This should go without saying except that most people who go to the beach never actually make it into the water. The ones who do only dip in quickly when they have to cool off or pee. If heaven forbid they should get their hair wet, their day is ruined. Our lakes, rivers, and oceans provide so much fun and entertainment that it’s a wonder everyone just lays around sunburning and pretending to sleep. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, cliff jumping, river rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, surfing, playing king of the castle on the docks, and just your average run-of-the-mill swimming are all great summer activities sure to keep you trim and fit. We have some of the cleanest and clearest water in the world, let’s enjoy it! Nothing beats summer time in Canada. We are blessed with an incredibly diverse geography and landscape ranging from gorgeous coastlines to rugged mountain ranges and wide open Canadian prairie. The Bible speaks about the “whole earth singing the glories of God.” I’ve spent much of my life exploring mountains, rivers and lakes and I can’t help but to also declare the glory of a God who created it all! Get outside this summer, experience creation first hand, and enjoy being in the presence of our Creator.
Part One of Nick Schuurman's farming series.
I work on a farm By Nick Schuurman
E
ver since I was a toddler, I've been tromping around cornfields and playing in pig pens. And while most of what I do is far from glamorous, I would like to think that I have learned as much about discipleship in fields and barns as I have studying theology in college. Despite the stigma (and the smell), my work in these places has been a sort of living parable. On the days I am not cursing the cold or grumbling about the manure I have yet to move, I count it a blessing. Jesus was no stranger to the agricultural industry of his day. His Kingdom stories were full of references to fields, farmhands, garden plots, trees, weeds, and harvest-time. If the statistics are right, not a lot of folks reading this will have known the modern version of this world which he pointed to, and even fewer of you will find yourselves on farms in the future. A lot of you have probably never even stepped foot on a farm. That's just the world we live in now. Are we missing out? More than just culturally, spiritually? Of the many lessons I have learned, perhaps none has been so important to my spiritual journey and work with the church than the patience that farm work requires. In the age of Google, where quick fixes and short-cuts are the name of the game, there is a need to relearn this kind of slowness rather than resort to a sort of fast faith. There is no shortage of spur-of-the-moment salvation experiences out there. Trouble is, discipleship, like fieldwork, is difficult. Sanctification is a Divine labour stretched life-long, and the simple fact is that not all the seeds that are scattered end up taking root. Used to the artificial pace at which North American culture operates, I see so a lot of folks come to faith, and, realizing that transformation does not happen as quickly as their espresso order, grow deeply discouraged. Many simply give up. While at times it comes dramatically, suddenly, and with a great display of force, change most often happens gradually, the way the snow peas and sweet corn inch their way skyward. And so, when I am discouraged at the pace of transformation, in my life and the lives of those in my community, I stoop down and look at those plants which take months to grow but will, after my patience has been tried, eventually produce fruit. These are hard jobs, involving a commitment to get dirt beneath one's fingernails while participating in time-intensive disciplines, the fruit of which may not be seen until much later. If you are passionate about cultivating faith in your community and bringing justice to your neighbourhoods, and find yourself burntout, discouraged, and wondering if there is any hope for change at all, try planting a couple sunflower seeds. There is fruit to our labour, and there are worlds of work and grace, rain and sun, that lie in bigger hands beyond our own. Last summer, I spent some time helping a local community centre develop an urban garden program. Given my background in farming, they thought I could help. One of the problems we discussed was how, at the end of the season, a lot of members would simply end up abandoning their plots. For whatever reason, come early October, half the garden was a mess of wilted tomato plants and stunted corn stalks. Faith requires incredible patience, but God is on the move, and will see this work through. Resurrection is bursting out of the earth all around us. Don't abandon the plot.
convergemagazine.com
| 41
Kick off your shoes and wiggle your toes!
health
Mid Afternoon Stretches Spending too long at a desk is not good for your body. A stretch can be energizing and can kick some much needed energy into your muscles when you feel you need it. Remember that a stretch is often not enough. In order to stay alert all day, make every excuse to get off your chair and exercise your legs whether it be to go for a quick walk around the block or even a quick walk around your office.
Stay hydrated throughout the day. Drink water!
Look outside often.
WRIST RELIEF STRETCH: Stretch both arms out, grab four fingers of right hand with left hand and pull back for ten seconds. Repeat with the opposite hand.
LEGS LIFTER:
Walk!
Sitting on your chair, slowly lift your legs up so that they are parallel to the floor. Hold for 5 seconds, repeat throughout the day.
SUNDAY MORNING STRETCH: Lift arms up so they are parallel to the floor. Reach right arm over head so that stretch is felt on the right side of body. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat with other arm.
4th Annual Canadian Israel & Bible Prophecy Conference
How to Prepare for the Last Days!
July 15-16, 2011
Central Heights Church, 1661 McCallum Rd, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 3M4
Speakers: Pastor Derald Skinner & Mrs Sue Skinner, Dr David Hocking, Pastor Mark Hitchcock, Dr Ed Hindson
Sponsored by:
Musicians: Johnny Ray Watson, Baritone Soloist Beth Williams, Pianist There is no cost to attend this event – a freewill offering will be taken.
42 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
For info call 1-888-75-BIBLE (1-888-752-4253) email: info@hopefortodaycanada.com
Get Active When summer rolls around there is always just that extra little bit of motivation to get moving. While some people may exercise for the sole purpose of slimming down, it’s important that you stay active for the sake of your health. Most people spend too much of their day sitting which leads to poor circulation and fat buildup over time. This season get active and have fun while you sweat. Not only will you feel good, your skin will also look healthy and youthful.
YOGA origins:
An ancient practice with roots in India. Came to the West in the mid-19th century.
description: There are many types of yoga from Hatha (slow and meditative) to Bikram’s (hot yoga). Usually practiced as a series of held poses that stretch and strengthen muscles. celebrity fans: Maggie Q, Madonna, Sting, Jennifer Aniston.
PILATES origins:
Technique first created by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century first to rehabilitate injured soldiers after WWI. Originally called Controlology because of an emphasis on using the mind to control small movements.
description: Develops core strength and flexibility. Pilates movements are slow and controlled to allow for certain muscles to be worked in isolation. Some think of it as the Western equivalent of yoga. celebrity fans:
Pete Sampras, Marissa Tomei, Gisele Bundchen, Oprah Winfrey
RUNNING origins:
Centuries ago a caveman tried to spear his prey but missed. Instead his prey began to chase him thus probing him to develop a new ability by lifting his legs up high and widening his stride.
description: Running needs no description because it is the most widely practiced forms of exercise. It is has excellent cardiovascular benefits and is known to give a rush of endorphins. celebrity fans:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Matthew Mcconaughey, Katie Holmes, Renee Zellweger
ZUMBA origins:
Developed by Alberto Perez in the 1990’s influenced by Spanish and African music.
description: A dance-aerobic exercise set to upbeat music. This is a high energy workout with intensity ranging by level. Combines dance moves from all over the world and requires some coordination. celebrity fans: Jordin Sparks, Vivica A. Fox, Jennifer Lopez
convergemagazine.com
| 43
have you read?
Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos Review by Rebekah Funk It’s a typical day for Matt Mikalatos — chilling at a trendy coffee shop in Portland, Oregon with a sandal-clad, white-robed, blue-sash-wearing Jesus. But when a stranger’s skepticism makes Mikalatos realize his personal Saviour could be a fake, the comic book store employee embarks on a journey to find the real thing, coming face to face with a plethora of imaginary Jesuses who try to throw him off the trail. Imaginary Jesus, the latest book release from Tyndale House Publishers, takes readers on a zany chase through the streets of modern-day Portland and first-century Judea, and into close
Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived by Rob Bell Review by Jeremy Postal Author, preacher, and indie shortfilmmaker Rob Bell recently dropped his newest book titled Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. If you didn’t pick it up from the title, the book is a discussion about Heaven and Hell that challenges long held Christian beliefs. The result has been a total firestorm, pun intended. The controversy surrounding the book began before it was even released due to a short promo
Craving Grace by Lisa Velthouse Review by Shara Lee Craving Grace by former Brio girl Lisa Velthouse, tells the story of someone who has always done the right thing. She has stayed away from drugs, always obeyed her parents, even vowed to save her first kiss for marriage. This all changes when she decides to fast from sweets. Suddenly Velthouse finds herself irritable and unpleasant. Her psychologist calls her “self-righteous” and she becomes increasingly jealous of all married and engaged women. When she breaks
quarters with Hippie Jesus, Bargain Jesus, Legalistic Jesus, and Magic 8 Ball Jesus, among others. The author, also named Matt Mikalatos, succeeds at challenging both the protagonist and readers to re-evaluate those preconceived cookie-cutter Jesuses they’ve created to fit their needs and cast aside their discomfort with a real Jesus who doesn’t always walk, talk and act like Christians expect Him to. The laugh-out-loud dialogue between outlandish characters keeps readers turning the book’s 225 pages until the very end, though it’s hard to digest the entire story in one go. Overlystereotyped Jesus characters can drive readers mad with frustration, but for
good reason. The author adequately satirizes the ridiculousness of Jesusphonies, whom believers create and worship when they’ve lost touch with the real deal. And while there are short bouts of long-windedness, overall the book is an entertaining read. Yet, don’t be fooled. While disguised as an easy read with short chapters and a snazzy cover, the book’s underlying questions delve into the very depths of popular Christian culture and theology. What starts out looking like a feelgood story for a warm afternoon at the park, has the potential to turn lives upside down. As Mikalatos’ own epic quest proves, an authentic relationship with the real Jesus isn’t quite as quick and easy as one might hope.
video seeming to suggest a form of Christian Universalism. This infuriated bloggers and the twittersphere alike. Loving Christians called for Rob Bell to be burned alive at the stake, as a heretic and blasphemer. All this before anyone had even read Love Wins! Controversy sells books and sales numbers are reported to be high with Love Wins debuting at number two on a New York Times best sellers list. The controversy and popularity of the book has brought the discussion of Heaven and Hell out from the cobwebbed corner of evangelical minds and onto centre stage of what feels like a three-ring circus.
In Love Wins Bell pokes around at common assumptions of Heaven and Hell asking questions that many would rather he not and making statements that invite readers into an inquiry of what they believe. And while Love Wins only gets three out five stars for quality of writing, it does put an important discussion in plain English. Historically, these types of questions have helped Christians clarify what they really believe and they’ve been formative for the life of the Church. That said, if your theology is so strong that there is no room for questions, or your faith is so weak you can’t ask them, don’t read this book.
her vow to never kiss a man before marriage, she feels like a failure but it is through that defeat that she begins to discover God’s grace. Velthouse is transparent, letting the reader in on her personal failures and humbly sharing embarrassments. Her story is sure to resonate with those who have grown up in the church and understand the pressure to live a restricted lifestyle. Although Velthouse does her best to illuminate the memoir with personal tales and careful introspection, the story lacks a thick enough plot to keep the reader interested throughout. Towards the middle it starts to get
slow as the author seemingly runs out of things to talk about. She goes into great detail about her writer’s block, troubles with finding a publisher and meeting deadlines. It also jumps around different times in her life switching from “present day” to “three years prior”, to “a summer prior” far too much than is necessary. Luckily towards the end Velthouse manages to redeem herself. Her story is most compelling through the little vignettes in which she shares her life’s little lessons. Through heartbreaking personal scenes, the reader develops a personal close connection with Velthouse.
have you heard? by stephanie ip
Death Cab For Cutie Codes and Keys Release: May 31, 2011
Foster The People Torches Release: May 24, 2011
David Bazan Strange Negotiations Release: May 24, 2011
Hailing from the shiny streets of Los Angeles, Foster The People is quickly gaining momentum despite only having a digital EP to their name and an album that recently dropped in mid May. Having played Coachella 2011 and a handful of sold-out shows across the country, FTP is undoubtedly a name to keep an eye on this summer. Their Vancouver stop at Venue sold out a month before show date. Their laid-back single, “Pumped Up Kicks” has garnered the band plenty of attention and surprised audiences by disguising the band’s electronic fever, more apparent in tracks such as “Helena Beat.” Their debut Torches was released on May 14.
Not one to tour often, David Bazan, formerly of Pedro the Lion, has been playing a string of small and intimate shows — in the living rooms of fans willing to open up their homes. Always unconventional, Bazan used these shows in lieu of cross-country tours (which is how most artists earn their cash) to subsidize costs while recording Strange Negotiations. As well, Bazan sold a special merch package through his website, one that offered fans the chance to have their name included in the liner notes of the album. As one of the most honest and hard-working musicians in the independent music scene, Bazan’s Strange Negotiation is, strangely enough, only his second full-length solo album.
Sondre Lerche Sondre Lerche Release: June 7, 2011 Sondre Lerche, a Norwegian singer/songwriter, has managed, for the most part, to stay under the radar in North America. His first two albums were praised by Rolling Stone in 2002 and 2004 and since then, he has continued to build upon his folky-jazz acoustics without being inundated with overexposure. His new selftitled album is released on June 7 and continues to feature his signature craft of catchy choruses and lilting melodies.
Junior Boys It’s All True Release: June 21, 2011 Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus, otherwise known as Canadian electronic indie-pop duo Junior Boys, have been releasing albums consistently since 2004. Appealing to both indie rock fans as well as electronic music fans, Junior Boys have worked with everyone from DJ Sander Kleinenberg to fellow countrymen Caribou throughout the years. This summer sees the release of their fourth album, It’s All True which features the lead single, “ep,” a light and quirky homage to the 80s.
The last time fans heard from Death Cab For Cutie, frontman Ben Gibbard was singing of a chillingly obsessive love affair in “I Will Possess Your Heart.” It was the lead single off 2008’s Narrow Stairs, an album that saw the band revisit the same dark themes featured in previous DCFC albums, as well as some lighter tones. Since then, Gibbard got married (to indie film goddess Zooey Deschanel, no less) packed up his beloved Seattle home and headed for the warm sun of Los Angeles. Of course, with any major life-changing turn of events, it makes fans wonder whether it will reflect in the band’s new material or not. DCFC, however, has always been consistent in their experimentation, but it’s still to be seen whether marriage has provided Gibbard with new inspiration. Their next release is Codes and Keys and the first track is “You Are A Tourist,” an upbeat track that features solid guitar work by both Chris Walla and Gibbard.
Bon Iver Bon Iver Release: June 21, 2011 After releasing one of the most sought-after albums of the 2000s, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver found himself having difficulty writing a follow-up. His 2007 debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, was embraced by both critics and fans and created a vacuum of expectation for the singer/ songwriter. Finally, Vernon decided to bring in outside influences and fellow musicians to help him modify the frame of his songwriting. While the album does not yet have a title or tracklisting, Vernon has said that each song will represent a different place in the world.
have you seen? by jason burtt
Source Code Directed by Duncan Jones Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga Jake Gyllenhaal stars in Source Code, a scifi suspense film with an incredible storyline. Gyllenhaal plays the role of Colter Stephens, an army captain who finds himself trapped in the body of a man he does not recognize, while seated on a commuter train headed for Chicago. In front of him is a woman who appears to know him. They chat for eight minutes, and then poof! It’s all gone. For certain, director Duncan Jones has a knack for blending mystery and disturbing claustrophobia with his characters; if you’ve seen his spectacular film Moon (2009), you’ll know what I’m talking about. After those initial eight minutes in Source Code, Captain Stephens awakes (as himself this time) strapped to a chair in a capsule resembling a retro lunar module. On a video screen before him is Air Force officer Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga), whose job it is to guide him through his mission: find the one responsible for both bombing the train and threatening to destroy Chicago with a dirty bomb. Goodwin is one officer among many in a special military program designed to use memories, or dreams, for reconnaissance (think Inception). They are using Stephens’ mangled corpse and semi-active brain — yes, he’s 99 percent dead — to input the “source code” of one of the victims of the train bombing. Captain Stephens’ job is to find the bomber in the memories of this victim while inhabiting the virtual body of the victim. But what gives the government the right to enslave and use his corpse and brainwaves, even if it could save the lives of millions? At one point, Stephens yells, “This can’t be legal what you’re doing.” Dr. Rutledge responds, saying that a military court has sanctioned the program, and that it is Stephens’ duty as a soldier to save lives at the expense of his own. The crux is that Stephens already gave his life in combat in Afghanistan, and the military
46 | CONVERGE. summer 2011
has kept his brainwaves going for use in this program. So it begs the question: does the obligation to protect the lives of millions of people justify the forced labour of even one individual? A similar question is raised in the controversial Unthinkable (Gregor Jordan; 2010) in which Samuel L. Jackson’s character brutally interrogates a Caucasian Muslim man who threatens to detonate nuclear bombs in American cities. Anytime we make a value judgment concerning right or wrong we are presupposing a basis for it, and likewise there are ethical theories and value systems at play in the decisions made by the characters in this film. Some argue that morality itself doesn’t exist at all as a category — humans simply adapt and survive by nature in community. According to this view, the decision made in Source Code to save millions at the expense of one is purely instinctual or emotive. Take Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright) for example, who is portrayed as somewhat egotistical with regard to the source code program. We are quite sure he is more jazzed by the fact his scientific experiments could work, than by the hope of rescuing the innocent. The greatest justification for his questionable science project is the utilitarian aspect: “Think of all the lives we could save.” But when he argues with Stephens as to why he should continue delving into eight minutes of hell, he states, “This may be difficult for you to hear, but you are [just] a hand on a clock.” Source Code is intriguing and fast paced. It was filmed to make you feel isolated and alone when Stephens is trapped, and startled every time you’re blown away by bombs on the train. The plot moves mysteriously along — some scenes serve as a harbinger of a hopeful ending — others seem to say that no one can cheat death. My advice is to enjoy this movie, but leave space to consider the underlying values questioned or realized by the main characters, and discover how you agree or disagree with them.
Hanna Directed by Joe Wright Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchette and Eric Bana Hanna is a blonde-haired, 16 year old girl that can break you. That’s the first thing you realize after she tracks and kills an elk with a handmade bow in snow-covered forests, and then spars with her father — knife and pistol in hand. Hanna (played by Saorise Ronan from Atonement) has been raised, educated, and trained by her father Erik (Eric Bana) an ex-CIA operative while hiding in Northern Finland. There is obviously a strange uniqueness to Hanna’s abilities and stoic nature, yet at the same time she has the longings of a normal teenager. With the flip of a switch, Hanna is launched into the real world, knowing full well that she’ll be running for her life. Erik’s former CIA handler, Marissa (Cate Blanchett) wants to kill them both, and hires gruesome assassins to do the job. High powered fight scenes are interspersed along a loose plot, which darts backward and forward in time throughout the movie, giving us glimpses of Hanna’s past and hints of her future. She’s on two different journeys: one is to explore herself; the other is to stay alive long enough to rendezvous with her father in Berlin. Both journeys take her through Morocco and Spain, where she bonds with the daughter of a gypsy-esque British couple traveling in a leisure van. Hanna’s sterility is contrasted with her friend’s pursuit of boylove and pipe dreams, yet their adventure brings them very close together. Director Joe Wright (The Soloist; Atonement; Pride and Prejudice) elicited stellar performances, especially from Ronan. Her character is intriguing: she’s a born killer, and a nice girl; neither completely sordid, nor innocent. The cinematography and lighting pull you in. The fight scenes are shot so up close and personal that you can’t even make out every move. This film will keep your heart beating. It’s a techno thriller set to the soundtrack brilliance of The Chemical Brothers.
have you checked out?
MOVIES TO LOOK OUT FOR: Cars 2 June 24 2011 Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater steers into a new adventure when they go overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix and get caught up in international espionage.
JUNE
25
JUNE
29
WonderJam Canada’s Wonderland, Vaughan, ON www.wonderjamfestival.com
Creation NE Mt. Union, Pennsylvania USA
JULY
www.creationfest.com/ne
JULY
Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest Ottawa, ON
2
One Day August 19 2011 Twenty years, two people. Based on the novel by David Nicholls, the movie follows Emma and Dexter’s lifelong friendship and love but only on every July 15th, the day they met.
5-17
JULY
15-24 JULY 20-23 AUG
Dolphin Tale
11-12
September 23 2011 Follows the true story of a dolphin who loses her entire tail and those who fight the impossible to save her life.
AUG
12-14 SEPT
17
The Art of Getting By June 17 2011 Slacker artist George and popular but complicated Emma begin a friendship that makes George realize it is not just about only getting by.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon July 1 2011 Michael Bay delivers the third explosive, graphically gripping installment of the Transformers franchise. An event in the past resurfaces into the present, bringing a war to Earth so big that even the Transformers may not be able to save the human race.
SEPT
24
OCT
8-10 OCT
14-15 OCT 25-28
www.ottawabluesfest.ca
The Canadian Badlands Passion Play Drumheller, AB www.canadianpassionplay.com
Creation NW Enumclaw, Washington USA www.creationfest.com/nw
The Global Leadership Summit Various locations, United States www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership
Creative World Festival Mission, BC www.creativeworldjustice.org/festival.html
Rock the River Winnipeg, MB http://www.billygraham.ca/ministries/ youth-ministry/rock-the-river.aspx
Why Everything Must Change Vancouver, BC http://www.ychange.ca
YC Newfoundland & Labrador Newfoundland & Labrador http://www.ycnl.ca
Change Conference Keswick, ON http://www.changeconference.com
Gospel Music Association Canada Week Calgary, AB http://www.gmacanada.net/index/?p=58
word
I’m
in the audience, listening to a popular band play their latest record. I’m surrounded by a lot of people that are as excited as I am to be at the feet of the lead singer we paid good money to spend an evening near. I buy a t-shirt, turn my camera back towards myself with the band in the background, and post the picture on Facebook. I’m guessing the post will be around a ten or twelve “comment-er” considering the popularity of the band, most of the comments coming from those who were also at the concert or wanted to be. What is it about the band on stage that creates in us a sense of excitement and connection? I could say it’s the lights, large crowd, or beat, but I know it is something more. We want to be like them or at least have a little taste of the power beaming from their presence. Then it strikes me that although I am at a concert, I am also in a sense, at a worship service. The music is not religious, per se, but it draws me in and I can’t help but want something to do with its source. I want to drink deeply the glory before my eyes, like I do when I see a beautiful sunset. Interestingly, the band on stage also wants to drink in the same glory that we see in them. They want to drink in the power of the audience, this magnitude of people that are giving them undivided attention and cheers. So, both the band and those of us in the audience want to touch this invisible power, this glory that makes the air electric. But given the fact that this concert will only last for another half hour, we eventually realize that this glory is fleeting, as the reverberations of the concert quickly fade.
To behold glory is to behold the fullest and purest expression of beauty. At our core we know that we both possess and do not possess this beauty in ourselves. As many times as I have been encouraged to see myself as beautiful, I can and can not do so. In the past I may have concluded that it was a self-esteem failure to not be able to see myself full of beauty. But now I am coming to see that my beauty, while present, is simply not complete. While I can enjoy my capacity for beauty in myself and in the wonderful things in life, I can’t experience the perfection of its fullness to the point of completely embodying it. This doesn’t stop me from wanting these partial experiences of the real thing. The real thing is the pure, lasting, and glorious beauty of God. While there are very substantial experiences of beauty here on earth, its fullness is only located in the Creator. Many of our disappointments in life are in some way related to the realization there is nothing on earth that holds the purity of beauty that God’s very essence is. While wonderful in very substantial ways, our experiences of kindness, peace, and even love are often only momentary. But the good news is that pure kindness, peace, love and beauty exist in God, who loves us greatly. God finds great joy in tending to our hearts by revealing to us the good things that we long for, dose after dose. What hope we have, that one eternal day pure beauty will be fully embodied, fully embraced as we are finally in the presence of God. In the meantime, we can enjoy a good night of music and friendship that gives us a glimpse of the goodness coming our way.
By Michelle Sudduth
48 | CONVERGE.
summer
2011
INSPIRING CHANGE
CARING FOR CREATION Beco me AN I N TER
N! 3-1 2 MO NTH S
“
Interning for A Rocha was a life-changing experience.
“
I walked into the kindest environment I have ever been in, and met people committed to building relationships, building community - Cass, Summer Intern 2010 and building hope.
A Rocha is an international conservation organization working to show God’s love for all creation. We empower young people and their churches to transform communities through grass-roots environmental projects. INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE IN: CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• collect data & map species
• help lead environmental programs & camps for kids • educate low-income families on sustainable gardening
• work in our CSA to grow food for foodbanks, shelters and outreaches • assist in food security initiatives (eg. organizing community gardens)
• assist with habitat restoration projects
• learn to implement green building practices • construct small building projects (eg. greenhouses)
CONTACT US TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER: arocha.ca • 604.542.9022 • canada@arocha.ca
These are your missionaries. Their mission is right here in Canada, helping people discover Jesus in your city. Hear their stories. Be a part of the revolution: powertochange.org/revolution
you