Blog Topic: Poverty/Activism

Ministering to Pimps and Prostitutes

As our world becomes increasingly aware of sexual exploitation and trafficking, we have become more conscious that it exists on our own front step.

I get asked quite a bit what some of the first steps someone can take are in order to begin their own outreach to prostitutes in their own [...]

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Homeboy Industries’ Fr. Gregory Boyle Speaks at Fuller Chapel

If you’re around the Los Angeles area, you’ve most likely heard of Homeboy Industries and the work they do to help gang members escape from a life of violence to a life of purpose. You may have even eaten their chips, salsa and guacamole.

Recently, head Homeboy Fr. Greg Boyle spoke at Fuller’s weekly [...]

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A Reflection of Reconciliation by Brenda Salter McNeil

The Lowell W. Berry Center for Lifelong Learning is excited to host Brenda Salter McNeil in Oakland for an public-welcome first day of her Fuller Doctor of Ministry class. If you aren’t familiar with Dr. Salter McNeil, you can catch her at Catalyst West Coast and Inhabit Conferences at the end of [...]

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My Culture Taught Me to Fear Black Men: I Choose to Reject That

So many people, black and white, have already written about the murder of Trayvon Martin in Florida a month ago that I hesitate to say anything more. The national attention his parents have succeeded in drawing I hope will ensure a more serious investigation of what happened than had been done previously.

Either [...]

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You Can Make Statistics Say Anything–But We Should Be Aware of This

HT: Shane Claiborne writing for Red Letter Christians

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Advent Images that Stuck in My Head

Focusing on the scripture, mood and context leading up to the birth of Christ (Advent) makes the celebration of Jesus’ birth more profound. At least it does for me. When I really study the first part of Matthew 2 alongside Luke 2 (Linus’s favorite verse) I see a great power struggle between two kingdoms. There [...]

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Why the Occupy Movement Matters

The Burner’s grandmother used to say, “You don’t know what you don’t know–until you know you don’t know it.”

But the people participating in the Occupy protests are doing us an invaluable service: They are helping to tell us what we don’t know.

Today, participants in the Occupy movement blocked [...]

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