“I commit myself, regardless of the expenditures of time, energy, and money to becoming an informed, mature Christian.”* What does it take to be God’s hands and feet in the world today? Since the first nine members of the Church of the Saviour recited the pledge quoted above on October 19, 1947, that small congregation has had an impact beyond anything they could have imagined. The   [Read More …]

“Let us say right here that our class found most writings on prayer made it sound too easy.  It isn’t.  Those who use it as a spare tire, only when an emergency arises, are very apt to be disappointed in its results.”  From Prayer Can Change Your Life by Dr. William R. Parker and Elaine St. Johns The book quoted above is another one that has had a major impact on my life.  I   [Read More …]

“Let me get this straight.  You want to borrow $10,000 so you can give it away.”    J. T. Richardson, a banker About 1975 my beloved father-in-law gave me his copy of Call to Commitment, Elizabeth O’Connor’s book detailing the early history of The Church of the Saviour.   I read it because I trusted his judgement, never dreaming as I did so the major impact it   [Read More …]

Power. Success. Hope. These were the words that raced through my mind at the end of our two and a half day Faith and Money Network group immersion trip earlier this month in the communities of southwestern Virginia—a sliver of Appalachia known for its rich cultural history and the declining fortunes of coal mining. A week has gone by. Has this Trip of Perspective changed mine?  SAMS   [Read More …]

"Work is love made visible".  Kahlil Gibran Would most people think it is a big step down from being a college professor and dean to teaching illiterate women how to write their names?  Probably, but Steven Werlin, the professor in question, isn’t among them. In 1996, Werlin, who was a faculty member and later dean at Shimer College, took his first trip to Haiti to visit a friend   [Read More …]

If you ill-treat the poor, you insult your Creator; if you are kind to them, you show him respect.  Proverbs 14:31 – The Poverty and Justice Bible On the 4th of July our family celebrated our nation’s independence as we have done for many years beginning with a pancake breakfast at the firehouse, a parade in the afternoon, followed by a potluck dinner with old friends and new, and ending with   [Read More …]

Dear sisters and brothers, dear fellow children, we must work… not wait. Not just the politicians and the world leaders, we all need to contribute. Me. You. We. It is our duty.  Let us become the first generation to decide to be the last, let us become the first generation that decides to be the last that sees empty classrooms, lost childhoods, and wasted   [Read More …]

White households in Boston have a median net worth of $247,500.  African-Americans there have a median net worth of $8.  And that isn’t a typo. Why is there such a huge disparity?  Dr. Art Goldsmith, Jackson T. Stephens Professor of Economics at Washington and Lee University, believes “It’s all about preserving privilege.  You can discriminate against somebody,” he said,   [Read More …]

“Raise my taxes.”     Warren Buffet, one of the 5 richest men in the U.S., on learning he was taxed at a lower rate than his secretary. No one needs more money than they can spend in their   [Read More …]