The Faith of a Team

I am very proud to be a part of the Montreat College men's basketball team. Watch the video below to see members of our team, coaches, and some action photos from games. I've talked alot about integrating faith in my blog and our basketball team strives to do that on a daily basis, in the classroom and on the basketball court. I am so thankful to be a part of this team, to have a God-loving coach, and to be here at Montreat College where I can strengthen my walk with Christ every day. I hope you enjoy the video!

Basketball Student-Athletes on Faith

I recently asked some of our men and women's basketball players in their opinion, how successful is Montreat College in integrating faith into the classroom and on the field of competiton. Here are some of their responses:

• Montreat has been extremely efficient in their efforts of incorporating faith into every aspect of the schooling process; classes, athletics, extracurricular activies, etc.



• I don't think Montreat has been successsful as it should be at integrating faith in the classroom. In some classes it is easier than others.



• I believe Montreat has done a great job integrating faith in the classroom as well as on teh court and in the community.



• We pray before classes and pray after games. Convo and chapel help integrate faith as well.



• In basketball we do daily devotions and prayer.

I also asked what does being a Christian athlete mean to them. Here are some responses.

• For me, it means God first in everything you do, people second, and me last.
• I can show what being a Christian means by howI act on and off the court. Also, when I am struggling with something, God is always there to turn to for help.
• Being a Christian athlete means that I am held at a higher level on the court and constantly need to uphold the reputation of my team.
• It means to put God and my relationship with him first and represent him while being an athlete.
• It is an high honor to represent God in my playing ability.
• It means no matter what I do, I can praise the Lord.
• Being a Christian athlete is a way for me to live out my faith, while growing with my teammates and learning more about the nature of God day to day.

God's Beauty

Charities & Technology

The purpose of this blog was to show a connection with technology and faith. Charities around the world have taken advantage of the benefits of technology by implementing technology within their charitable business to improve operations, donations, and even public relations. I have posted two posts showing how two charities, Salvation Army and invisible children are currently using all sorts of technology to spread the word on their specific causes.

Only one in 10 Americans has complete confidence in charitable organizations because they don't know where their money goes. Technology is the future of that missing link between accountability between charities and donors. This is going to be the new standard for how people give.

In a Computer World article, Heather Havenstein discusses how charities now use "widgets," small, single purpose Web applications to improve their services. The article identified Operation Kids, an organization use now uses widgets to provide streaming video and photos of its New Orleans projects and an explanation of each project's goals. The first widget, which was jointly developed by technology firms MediaForge and Cobalt Communications Group, can be used by viewers to donate to Operation Kids.

Users can also download the widget and embed it in their own Web site or social network to raise money for the charity. I have published a post for the Salvation Army Online Red Kettle program which used a widget to show the progress of donations to my kettle.

Accountablity and efficiency have become important criteria for many charities in light of questions of how donated relief dollars were spent during recent disasters. Rick Larsen, co-founder of Operation Kids says, "We can use the technology both as a donation solicitor and a fully interactive communication process to say, 'Here is where your money went, and here is streaming video or a picture of the people you affected.' People can become their own fundraisers -- they can set a fund-raising goal in their online community."

The organization plans to use the widgets to provide before and after photos of the various projects it has undertaken in New Orleans. They include the repair of a damaged day care center and a decimated playground at a charter school of science and math.

While the organization is using New Orleans as a testbed for the widget, its use of the technology has already gone so well that it already plans to apply it to other projects to help provide accountability craved by donors, Larsen added.

Give A Book Save A Life

On December 9-11, our Montreat College Bookstore is hosting a book drive for the charitable organization Invisible Children. Invisible Children is a non-profit organization created by three young filmmakers to help pring peace to northern Uganda. I really believe it is important during this time of year to remember what is important. What a great way to show the true Christmas spirit, by becoming involved in a worthy charity. Each of us has a heart or passion for something. It may be children, homeless, or even animals. The most important thing is to show your support and become involved. Here is a little more about invisible children.



In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims.

After returning to the States, they created the documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda.s night commuters and child soldiers.

The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. The overwhelming response has been, "How can I help?" To answer this question, the non-profit Invisible Children, Inc. was created, giving compassionate individuals an effective way to respond to the situation.

Who We Are
We are storytellers. We are visionaries, humanitarians, artists, and entrepreneurs. We are individuals part of a generation eager for change and willing to pursue it.

As a non-profit we work to transform apathy into activism. By documenting the lives of those living in regions of conflict and injustice, we hope to educate and inspire individuals in the Western world to use their unique voice for change. Our media creates an opportunity for people to become part of a grassroots movement that intelligently responds to what.s happening in the world.

But our work extends beyond our borders. In war-affected regions we focus on long-term development, working directly with individuals and institutions that are eager to realize their full potential. Through education and innovative economic opportunities, we partner with affected communities and strive to improve the quality of life for individuals living in conflict and post-conflict regions.

How We Make a Difference
Our approach to humanitarian work is founded in the strength and intelligence of the Ugandan community. We learned early on it was not only important but essential to heed the wisdom of people that had not only lived in the war, but were surviving it. People who would know better than anyone what the greatest needs were and the best ways to meet them. What we came to find is that while there have been many efforts to address the issues that stem from living and fighting in such a long-lasting war, the people of Uganda are asking for a future beyond the conflict.

Their pleas have become our development strategy.

All of our programming is a partnership between those of us at Invisible Children and those in the Ugandan community. We focus on long-term goals that enable children to take responsibility for their future and the future of their country. Our programs are carefully researched and developed initiatives that address the need for quality education, mentorships, the redevelopment of schools, resettlement from the camps, and financial stability.

Ringing the Virtual Bell

You see the red kettles on the streets, now Salvation Army has created a way for people to give online with the Online Red Kettle. This a great way of charitable organizations using technology to help spread their faith and their purpose.

So, I have created my own online red kettle for others to give. So, I challenge each of you to give a little to help a great cause. I have it set up as a gadget over on the right hand side of my blog. Why not make Christmas a little brighter for those less fortunate.

Salvation Army was founded as an evangelical organization dedicated to bringing people into a meaningful relationship with God through Christ. Its doctrinal basis is that of the Wesleyan-Arminian tradition. It is composed of persons who are united by the love of God and man, and who share the common purpose of bringing others to Jesus Christ. The word salvation indicates the overall purpose of the organization—to motivate all people to embrace the salvation provided to them in Christ.

Ministry versus Integration

After reading Culbertson's article "A New Rallying Cry" I would have to disagree with some of his points. In any field, even education, marketing is very important. I can't help to think Culbertson's "call" is more of a marketing strategy. I believe if integration to faith and learning has failed, it is due to professors AND students. For many students, myself included, they need to be ENGAGED in the classroom by the professor and KNOW how to integrate faith and learning. When I came to Montreat College, the idea of integrating faith and learning was new to me. I will admit I probably wouldn't call myself a Christian scholar as Culbertson points out, but I feel like I am on my way in understanding this concept better.

Culbertson is a professor of missions at Southern Nazarene, which is "why" he probably puts the emphasis on "ministry" in his new slogan idea. He sees that the integration of faith and learning doesn't go far enough. Missions and hands-on experience needs to be a part of the integration. You can read more about Culbertson's mission work at http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/.

My second point, is that it seems that Culbertson's call for Ministry Across Curriculum related more with professors than students. In all of his points, he emphasizes the role of the professors instead of the student. Where does the student's role in this "new cry" fit? I like the idea of integrating faith and learning because it puts the responsibility on the professor and the student.

I do like the author's point about not treating faith and learning as equal parts. Sometimes I think if viewed my learning as important as my faith I would do better in the classroom! Many people to put faith as their center, which don't get me wrong is good. But, can you imagine if students valued their education as much as their faith what impact that would have on their engagement in class, academic faithfulness, and their GPA!

I do like the word "ministry" and what it could mean for students. I think we should see our education as part of a ministry. One of Culbertson's questions is "What would it look like?" I don't know how students would "live" out the curriculum part. Using the word curriculum almost seems tied to the classroom, while integrating faith and learning could be applied to the classroom, the community, athletics, and other extracurricular activities. Using the word curriculum almost seems smaller in perspective. Even though I like the word ministry, it may need to be described more in detail for those students who are not deep in their faith.

I like what Robert Harris said in his article related to integration of faith and learning. "Christians must be intentional about making the connections between their faith and the knowledge claims they encounter and careful to keep the Biblical framework in the foreground as the structuring principle of truth. Finally, why even make this change? I don't think changing the "slogan" is going to change anything. To make any slogan or idea work you have to have the people behind it believe in it. Why would professors do anything different with this new slogan? Yeah, Culbertson makes some good points, but the bottom line is there has to be a change in professors and students' hearts and minds about making this ministry and integration a priority. If you don't do that, no fancy slogan will make a difference.