CROSS CULTURE
IN REVIEW
IN THE NEWS Facebook Tests “Prayers” Feature
L Focusing on Jesus in a Distracted World REVIEW BY LT-COLONEL MORRIS VINCENT
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or too long Christian leaders have equated high-quality leadership with the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Congregations searching for pastors look for the person who can balance budgets and raise money, has expertise in theology, is strong in administration and, above all, can “perform” well on the platform. As Diane Langberg writes in Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church, “Leadership is thus reduced to a never-ending treadmill of acquiring more and better skills and achieving impressive results.” In Jesus Centered, Dr. Steve Brown takes us on a different journey. While not discounting the value of having certain skills, Brown brings us back to the basics of ministry engagement. “Choosing to follow Jesus is the starting point for becoming Jesus-centered,” he writes. As I read those words, I found myself saying, “I knew that!” and yet the reminder served to reignite the desire. Brown’s subtitle, “Focusing on Jesus in a Distracted World,” indicates where he’s going with the book. As he notes, “Our world is filled with distractions … but they won’t transform your life.” To be Jesus-centred, Brown writes, “we must abide in Jesus. How do we abide? By realizing our utter dependency on him.” Being Jesus-centred means developing a biblical mindset that translates into Christlike behaviours, attitudes and priorities. It means responding to situations as Jesus did because our hearts are set on him. It means establishing rhythms that keep us restored spiritually, physically and relationally. It means “resisting temptation and choosing to pursue holiness,” Brown writes. Brown’s book is filled with recommendations and practical steps to help readers become Jesus-centred. This change in focus will affect how you live, how you lead and how you impact the world for Jesus in both good and challenging circumstances. As Brown notes, “When we fix our eyes on Jesus during the difficult times, we are emboldened by his presence. We are encouraged by his example, we are empowered by his strength.” Jesus Centered will bring us back to the basics of intentionally grounding ourselves in Jesus. The book gives us a sacred template for our life and ministry. “The true key to being different, living different and leading different is Jesus,” Brown writes. I found this book to be an inspiring read that can enhance our journey to become more Jesus-centred. Lt-Colonel Morris Vincent is the chief secretary of the Caribbean Territory.
Photo: shine.graphics/stock.Adobe.com
Jesus Centered
ikes, shares and … prayers? In the spring, some Facebook users in the United States were surprised to discover a new feature on their accounts: prayer posts. This feature allows members of groups to ask for and respond to prayer requests. A Facebook spokesperson confirmed that the social media platform is currently testing this new feature. “Our mission to give people the power to build community extends to the world’s largest community; the faith community,” Nona Jones, head of Global Faith Partnerships at Facebook, told Religion News Service. Facebook decided to develop the feature after observing the various ways users are connecting in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. To use the feature, group administrators must first opt in. Once a prayer request is posted, other group members can choose a reaction, leave a comment or click a “pray” button letting the original poster know they have prayed.
Sexism in Church Affects Women’s Health
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eligious involvement is often associated with positive outcomes such as increased longevity and better overall health outcomes. But a new study from the American Sociological Association has found that sexism in religious institutions can actually limit such health benefits for women. “We found that women experience a health benefit from religious participation—relative to non-participants—only when they attend religious institutions that are gender inclusive and allow women to hold meaningful leadership roles within the congregation,” says Patricia Homan, assistant professor of sociology at Florida State University and co-author of the study. “Women who attend sexist congregations have the same health as those who do not attend religious services at all, and have worse health than women who attend inclusive churches,” Homan continues. “These results suggest that the health benefits of religious participation do not extend to groups that are systematically excluded from power and status within their religious institutions.” Salvationist July/August 2021 29
