Check out this incredibly cool promo piece we put together for the Justice Conference.  It really shows off the beautifully haunting art work Bill Chiaravalle did for the conference. Registration is now open at www.thejusticeconference.com

Justice Confrence Promo from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.

The venue is reserved. The speaker schedule has been set. The word is getting out - registration is now open! Everything you need to know and registration  at www.thejusticeconference.com

by Whitney Stewart
When we come to know Christ and believe in the gospel, we are clean, we are new. We become like children who have stomped mud all over the house and realized it was wrong. We asked our dad to clean up our mess and forgive us. We watched the vacuum swallow and slurp the dirt that once clung to our shoes and used to leave a trail of evidence wherever we went. We were amazed. We felt new.
Growing up does a number on newness. We see pain, we hear about human trafficking, we have broken relationships and we find dirt clods in our shoes we failed to stomp free. We see there is still some cleaning to do.
I often wonder why the newness that Jesus brought on the cross did not sweep its effects across the board immediately. I want a clean house, but my patience does not allow time for cleaning. I know Jesus is is the business of reclaiming, growing, tweaking and prodding to wholeness. I am impatient and always aching for newness. In my waiting I pray this prayer:

No Newness Yet

You are the God who makes all things new.
We gladly raise our voices and move our lips
to acknowledge, celebrate, and proclaim
your staggering newness.
As we do so, we hold in our hearts
deep awareness of all the places where your newness
is not visible, and
has not come.
Our hearts link to many places of wretchedness
short of your newness.
We picture our folks at home,
sick, in pain, disabled, paralyzed
and no newness yet.
We know up close the deep wretchedness
of poverty, of homelessness, of hunger
and no newness yet.
Move our hearts closer to the passion of our lips.
Move our lips closer to your own newness.
Work your newness in hidden, cunning ways among us.
Move us closer to your bodied newness in Jesus,
newness of strength come in weakness,
newness of wisdom come in foolishness.
Draw us from the wretchedness we know
to his scarred, bloody wretchedness
that is your odd entry of newness into our life.
We pray in the name of his suffering newness. Amen.
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by: Will Kellar

Truth can’t be found, unless sought after. As Antioch seeks to live missionally and to encourage others to do the same, we seek truth in the way we do missions. One way in which Antioch supports missional living is through impactful short-term missions. To ensure the greatest impact we seek truth within David A. Livermore’s book; “Serving with Eyes Wide Open: Doing Short-Term Missions with Cultural Intelligence.” Over the next couple weeks we will be taking a look at what it takes to live in this missional approach.

Livermore believes, “Widening our perspective on the world in which we live should be an ongoing process for all of us.” What’s going on in this world we are all a part of, and where do we fit in? The truth of this world is devastating and eye opening, but necessary in venturing into short-tem missions.

Here’s the truth: Every second four babies are born adding to the worlds 6.5 billion people. Many Americans find it difficult to survive financially, living pay check to pay check; while 20% of the world lives on less than a dollar a day. 40% of the world’s population lives on less than two dollars. In perspective Americans make up 5% of the world’s population yet we consume 50% of the world’s resources. In the mean time, due to lack of resources 30,000 people will die today from preventable diseases on top of that every 16 seconds a child will die from hunger.

These facts presented are overwhelming and are difficult for us to swallow. In our society, our nightly news doesn’t give a glimpse of the reality of the global issues which grasps the world. This is why it requires extra effort on our part, to open our eyes and broaden our horizons. Every second four children are born; adding to the population where the majority is poor, young, sick, displaced, and taken advantage of. This is the world that we not only live in, but we are a part of.

In a world of unequally distributed resources this hopefully will give some food for thought.

Last month Janna Caba, a young woman from Antioch, sat down and shared some of her thoughts, feelings, ideas and prayer requests before embarking on a journey to the heart of Central Africa. Check it out!

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My name is Janna and I am currently with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Salem, Oregon.  I have been in schooling for three months. I have been prepping for the mission field, and getting closer in my relationship with God. The days are getting closer and half of my team is leaving for Asia (Thailand and India) on Thursday, June 17, and my team is going to Africa (Uganda and Kenya) on Wednesday, June 16. There are sixteen of us in this school which is called Engage DTS (Discipleship Training School).

Our focus is Injustice. As for my team that is going to Africa, our first two weeks in Kampala, Uganda, we will be working in a pregnant team home. We are the first team to come and help them, so they are very excited to see us! We will be building tables, chairs and benches, and also giving some of the girls spiritual guidance! The next place we are helping is the Sanyu babies home. This is an orphanage that takes care of newborn infants to about two years old who have been left on the streets of Kampala. Our joy to being there is changing diapers!

The last place we will be visiting in Uganda is Jesus Village. This is an ex-child soldier home; mostly boys as young as eight years old who have been soldiers. We are there to give them love, support and encouragement. We plan to take them to the pool and play lots of soccer! (Futbol as they say it! haha!) As we will be living in both Uganda and Kenya, we will be doing sermons in their churches and giving our own testimonies! We will be spending most of our time in Uganda, but in the beginning of August we will be headed to Kenya (by bus). There, we don’t have too many ministries so that is kind of open to anything we can find when we get there! We know God will open many doors, but most of all in churches!

So as of right now, I am packing up my dorm and packing to live out of a backpack for two and a half months! We can’t wait to head out on Wednesday! I am SO excited to be doing God’s work! I cannot wait to take pictures of this beautiful and amazing country and to get to know many people! I will update as much as possible!

- Janna Caba

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Keep checking back for updates on Janna!