Up Next: The 2nd Annual Slam Poetry XP: “Modern Psalms”

As part of our Black History Month observances, on February 21, the Student Action Diversity Committee will be hosting The 2nd Annual Slam Poetry XP: “Modern Psalms” at Rochester College in the RAC Theatre from 7pm-10pm.The event will feature both Christian and non-Christian artists, performing original pieces that talk about life, love, pain, suffering, and everything in-between. Like the Biblical Psalms, these poems burst with pictures of true experiences, raw and uncut.

Also, as a special part of the event, we have commissioned several poems to be written and performed that have been inspired by the paintings of Joye Ofei, a local Detroit artist who paints portaits of life in Ghana, Africa.

Proceeds from “Modern Pslams” will go to benefit That Congo Thing (TCT), a ministry that works to help a small school in the Republic of Congo educate young girls so they are not forced into prostitution.

This video from TCT founder, Emily Dickinson will tell you more:

Artists include:Lashaun "Phoenix" Moore, Karrie Waarala, Ms. Cassie Poe, Kirk Latimer, Natasha "T" Miller, Gabriel Giron, Mahogany Jonz, Kinetic Affect, and more!!!

Cost: $7 before the event, $10 at the door (Tickets go on sale in the Rochester College Business office on February 1st)

BIG CHURCH/small church podcast is now live!!

Hey all! We had an amazing event on Monday night and the podcast is now available for download by clicking on the link below or going to the I-Tunes store and typing in the keyword: Rochester College or House of God. We didn’t think we were going to get a lot of mileage out of the topic, but things went splendidly and the 6 ministers on the panel brought great weight to the discussion. Enjoy!

Morning Session–11am-1130am

Evening Session pt. 1 of 2–7pm-8pm

Evening Session pt. 2 of 2–8pm-9pm

Up Next: The House of God Sessions–BIG CHURCH/small church: a conversation about church growth, evangelism, and church in the age of marketing

The Student Action Diversity Committee (SADC) will host “BIG CHURCH/small church: a conversation about church growth, evangelism, and church in the age of marketing” on Monday, January 14, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the Rochester College Auditorium.

The event is the third part of a 5-part series of interpersonal meetings developed by the Student Action Diversity Committee (SADC) called The House of God Sessions.  Each event brings together five to six ministers from different denominations/viewpoints to have a candid discussion of issues important to the Body of Christ.  The sessions are held before a live audience. This installment of the series will focus on questions about how churches should and should not grow, appropriate sizes, how evangelism is realized in larger and smaller churches, and whether it is appropriate for the church to market itself and Jesus as a product to be sold. The SADC has invited 6 Christian ministers from various area churches with memberships ranging from 15-20 people to 22,000+ people each Sunday. The first event discussed water baptism. The second event—a step away from the program’s normal format—featured 5 individuals who are not Christians who gave their impressions of Christians and Christian evangelism.

“I feel that larger churches have more checks and balances in place to assist in the overseeing and the proper usage of monies,” comments Evangelist Janice Hill (A Harvest of Souls Ministries) in response to a preliminary question sent out by the SADC about church size and accountability. “I also feel that you can be a small church and [be] dishonest with finances. It all goes back to character and integrity.  In some small churches there are certain boards that tell the pastor what he can do or what he cannot do within the church. God has called pastors to lead the flock.”  Hill attends Word of Faith International Christian Center, a mega-church in Southfield.

But, Rufus Harris, pastor of The Bridge Church in Pontiac expresses a few concerns. “It has been my experience that accountability is a secondary action—an afterthought—in larger churches. Can a church be too large?  I think so, especially if people get lost in the shuffle or, if only the 99 matter and not the 1 lost, what’s the point? Harris pastors a church with only 10-12 regular attendees.

“We believe this is going to be a terrific conversation. There are people who attend large churches who can’t see the advantages of a smaller setting. There are people who attend a small church who think a larger church is too structured and impersonal. Hopefully, we’ll dispel some myths and get at the heart of the issue,” says Calvin Moore, student leader of the SADC.

Moore will serve as Interviewer for the event. Six panelists will have a preliminary discussion during the College’s daily assembly program at 11 a.m. and then answer a series of questions during the evening, starting at 7p.m. Guest speakers include:

·         Pastor Loren Covarrubius (Mt. Zion, 6000 attendees)

·         Minister Josh Graves (Rochester Church of Christ, 1200 attendees)

·         Pastor Rufus Harris (The Bridge Church, 10-12 attendees)

·         Evangelist Janice Hill (A Harvest of Souls Ministries/WOFICC 22,000+ attendees)

·         Pastor Michael Hunter (The Bible Way Church, 15-20 attendees)

·         Pastor Craig McGlassion (Paradox Church, 200 attendees)

 

The Student Action Diversity Committee is a student-led ministry of Rochester College that seeks to foster diversity in the areas of race relations, socio-economic differences, and differences across Christian tradition. For more information contact SADC at 248 218 2000 or studentactiondiversity@gmail.com.

The 1st Annual Capitalism for a Christmas Campaign Press Release–featured in The Free Press

Rochester College Student Organization Sponsors 1^st Annual “Capitalism for a Christmas” Campaign

 Rochester Hill, MI—December 3—Calling their event, “The Capitalism for a Christmas Campaign,” on December 1 a small group from Rochester College’s Student Action Diversity Committee (SADC) and Student Government, went to Birch Run Outlet Mall in Birch Run, Michigan to participate in a charitable shopping trip for children with incarcerated parents.

            Each person who attended the trip donated $10 in order to purchase gifts for the children. The group was able to raise roughly $200 to spend as part of Prison Fellowship Ministry’s Angel Tree program.

            Senior Calvin Moore, student leader for the SADC volunteered with the Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program several years ago at his church. The church took a small group of guys to Birch Run the first Saturday in December to purchase gifts for kids whose parents are imprisoned.

            “I’d always wanted to do something like that again and I’m really glad that people at Rochester College were willing to support this kind of ministry. Jesus talks about ministering to ‘the least of these.’ This was a chance for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to innocent children through the giving of gifts,” said Moore.

Arriving at Birch Run Outlet Mall a little after 10 a.m., the group began canvassing several stores to find the perfect gifts for the children. They were able to buy brand new winter clothing from GAP Kids and a large bag of toys and games from KB Toy Store. Afterwards, they gathered together to enjoy the fruits of their labor at Tony’s Restaurant.

“It was a great experience,” comments Terrill Hall, the College’s dean of Student Life, “I enjoyed driving the group and it was a great way for me to get to know some students that I do not get to see everyday.  It was also a great opportunity for Student Government to partner with SADC to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.  I hope that we will do it again next year and have enough people to fill RC’s big red bus.”

Amanda Robinson, a member of SADC echoes Halls sentiments. “I was so excited about the chance to do something like this. I love kids and it broke my heart to think of anyone going without gifts at Christmas, especially children. Somewhere, little kids get to have a happy holiday because total strangers thought of them. And even if we never get to meet them and let them know who we are and give them hugs, it feels good to know that we’ve been part of helping out our fellow man.”

Prison Fellowship Ministries, founded by former Nixon aide Chuck Colson in 1976, is comprised of Prison Fellowship, the world’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families and BreakPoint, which equips Christians to live out their faith in the culture. Prison Fellowship Ministries has programs in correctional facilities in all 50 U.S. states and 110 countries worldwide, more than 20,000 partner churches in the United States, some 50,000 volunteers throughout the United States, some 300 U.S. staff, with an annual budget of approximately $50 million for its U.S. ministries. For more information about Prison Fellowship Ministries and their Christmas programs check their website at www.angeltree.org.

Up Next: 1st Annual “Capitalism for a Christmas” Campaign

It’s Christmas time! The lights are up! The mistletoe is in full bloom! The ground is covered in a blanket of snow! And best of all? There are presents beneath the Christmas tree just waiting to be opened!

But, its not that way for everyone. Every year, thousands of children go without a Christmas because one or both of their parents are in America’s prison system.

So, the RC Student Government and the Student Action Diversity Committee have partnered together with Prison Fellowship Ministries to help little kids experience the joy of Christmas that so many of us tend to take for granted.

On December 1st, we will head to Birch Run Outlet Mall to so some shopping for friends and family, and each person who goes will donate $7 to a pot so we can purchase gifts for some needy children.

Podcast of “LOST” is now live!

Hey all! We had an amazing event on Monday night and the podcast is now available for download by clicking on the link below or going to the I-Tunes store and typing in the keyword: Rochester College or House of God. Enjoy! Check back in a few days for Calvin’s thoughts about the event.

“LOST: a candid conversation with those outside the church about those inside the church”
click link

LOST: a candid conversation with those outside the church about those inside the church (TV spots)

Here are the TV spots for the second House of God event at Rochester College taking place on November 12, 2007! Thanks to Brian Potthast, Grant McClure, and Calvin Moore for putting these together for us! Check them out and drop in for the conversation that night! YHWH’s peace.

Student Action Diversity Committee

Spot # 1–”Jesus”
Question: What do you believe about Jesus Christ?

Spot # 2–”Christianity”
Question: When you hear “Christian” or “Christianity,” what kind of thoughts does that evoke? How does it make you feel?

 

Spot # 3–”LOST”
Question: When the Church talks about “lost” people, how have they generally been characterized?*

*Note: The question was not whether they agreed with the characterization–which most did not–but rather how the church has classically talked about “lost” people.

 

Now that you’ve viewed the TV spots for our upcoming House of God Session, tell us your thoughts. What do YOU believe about Jesus? When YOU hear “Christian” or Christianity,” what kind of thoughts does that evoke in YOU? If you’re a church-goer (or if you have left the church), how has your church classically characterized “lost” people? We’d love to hear your thoughts and generate some good discussion around this topic.