Students asked to find their face among "the many faces of missions"
For Immediate Release Sept. 15, 2000 Contact: Tom Craig, Director of Media and Community Relations "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in everyone." I Corinthians 12:4-6 Evangelists are not the only missionaries. People with a wide variety of gifts and interests can play a role in the work God is doing in the world, including right here at home. This is one of the lessons Missions Emphasis Week organizers hope students will learn next week, Sept. 25-29, during the annual event. This year's theme, "The Many Faces of Missions," reflects how everyone can play a part in God's work regardless of his or her profession or major - from agriculture to business to education to medicine. The students, staff and faculty planning this event hope to promote awareness of and dedication to God's mission in the world and opportunities to be a part of that mission. The week includes special speakers in Chapel, displays in the Campus Center and Hall of Servants, luncheons and a multilingual chapel service. This year's keynote speaker, Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, assistant professor of religion and Hispanic studies at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., will be on campus all day Tuesday, Sept. 26, and until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Rodriguez, who also serves part time as minister for the multicultural Hollywood Church of Christ in Los Angeles, will speak to some classes in addition to chapel. Rodriguez has a bachelor's and a master's degree in religion from Pepperdine and two master's degrees from the Universidad de las Américas in Puebla, México - one in teaching English as a second language and one in teaching Spanish as a second language. Last year, he earned his Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. The title of his dissertation is "No Longer Foreigners and Aliens: Toward a Missiological Christology for Mexican Americans in Southern California." His areas of specialization are Theology of Mission, Contextualization, Third World Theology, New Testament Christologies, Hispanic Studies, and Urban Mission and Ministry. Currently, he teaches a class on "Religion and Culture: Faces of Jesus from the Margin of American Society," which explores the theological perspectives of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans. While at ACU, Rodriguez will address the Christian view of the foreigner in one's own country. Previous to his work at Pepperdine and in Los Angeles, Rodriguez and his family served as foreign missionaries in Puebla, México, from 1985-1994. He served as associate minister for the Davis Park Church of Christ in Modesto, Calif., from 1979-1985. Born in Los Angeles, Dan has been married to his wife, Jeanette, for more than 23 years. They have four children: Martin, Marcus, Meredith and Monica. The schedule for Missions Emphasis Week includes:Monday, Sept. 25 All day - Displays around campus Tuesday, Sept. 26 All day - Displays around campus Wednesday, Sept. 27 All day - Displays around campus Thursday, Sept. 28 All day - Displays around campus Friday, Sept. 29 All day - Displays around campus All women on campus whether students, staff, faculty or just friends are invited to the Women in Missions Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 27, after Chapel in the Hilton Room. Complimentary sack lunches will be provided. Women will have fellowship time to celebrate the way God uses women in mission work around the world. No RSVP is required. All faculty members should have received an invitation to lunch with Dr. Daniel Rodriguez after Chapel on Tuesday, Sept. 26, in the Library Atrium. Any faculty who did not RSVP by the Thursday, Sept. 21, deadline may still come to the luncheon, but will not be guaranteed a boxed lunch. They may bring their own lunch if they wish. For more information, contact: Dr. Sonny Guild, director of the Institute for Missions and Evangelism, Ext. 3710 -30- Archived News Releases - Current ACU News and Events
If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@acu.edu or call 915-674-2692 (cell phone: 665-5469).
|