Communing with Comm-Unity

The root of community is union. Oneness of many. Healthy communities include church connections with individuals, families, schools, businesses, lawmakers, and law enforcement. Examples of Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries’ involvement to community health are:

• Participating in the Interfaith Council to raise awareness of churches as resources to local needs in Elk Grove Village, IL;

• Representing faith assemblies on the Coalition for Positive Youth Development (CPYD), Schaumburg, IL;

• Assisting educators by serving on the Board of Directors of Lions Math and Science Christian Academy, Waukegan, IL.

The CPYD participation has been especially fruitful. Through this connection, KIT artistic director Michael Edgar Myers, was invited to be among facilitators teaching sexual health education to 160 eighth grade students during the first quarter of 2020, then asked to contribute to a manual helping parents speak to their children about sexual, emotional and spiritual health. (See Below.)

CPYD also led to an introduction to Joseph Podlasek, CEO of the Trickster Cultural Center, which celebrates Native American history. Podlasek invited Michael to speak at Trickster’s 4-Day Unity Fire fete in July where his talk, “Kindred Holy Spirits: Stories of Faith Among African-American and Native American Peoples,” came in the midst of racial protests across the U.S.

The talk ended with a reading called, “The Lord’s Prayers,” a merger of Jesus’ teaching how to pray in Matthew, frequently called, “The Lord’s Prayer,” and His prayer of unity for Believers following The Last Supper. Response was surprising, as some audience members asked where to find the prayers. This event solidified our desire to seek more opportunities beyond church setting. So we created a free download of the adaptation.

A fire-pit conversation under the tent of the Unity celebration at the Trickster Art Gallery in Schaumburg opens cultural understanding.

(c) Vikki J. Myers

Parenting Tips for Talking to Teens About Sexuality

Tip: Don’t Wait ‘Til They’re Teens. (Deuteronomy 6:6-8)

Sample of human sexuality classroom exercise with 8th grade public school students. If you were to use same activity with your family or student ministry, what Scriptural support would you share? (See Kenneth Young Center newsletter, Page 22)

(c) Michael Edgar Myers