 At 2013 The Justice Conference in Philadelphia I visited one of the vendor-booths I couldn’t resist: The Land of a Thousand Hills had coffee! I always can use coffee. Before I had my cup of coffee, the young lady shared their story, one of love, of entrepreneurship, of empowering, and of powerful reconciliation through the gospel of Jesus, the Messiah--and coffee! Land of a Thousand Hills is truly a Wasted Evangelism ministry where social action has biblically centered evangelistic outcome.  In April 1994, Rwanda (an African country half the size of the state of Maryland) experienced one of history's most atrocious genocides. Within a third of a year close to one million ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu sympathizers lost their lives to the hands of extremist Hutu militia. The 1994 genocide that left so many innocent people either dead, orphaned, or widowed has now become a focal point of the global community. Rwanda made a commitment to national restoration, even calling upon the church to lead the country in reconciliation. They also turned to the outside world for help with the healing and assistance to eradicate poverty, disease, and illiteracy. In 2005, Jonathan Golden, founder of Land of a Thousand Hills, recognized a simple and tangible opportunity to make a difference in the reconciliation of the Rwandan people. This realization led him to start a coffee company that pays a fair wage to the farmers of Rwanda, helps them with their basic needs, and brings a quality product to coffee lovers. Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee partners with farmers and local community leaders to develop the coffee into a sustainable income, striving to further meet the needs of the people. When you buy Land of a Thousand Hills, you are receiving coffee that is 100% Arabica, fairly traded, and roasted fresh. Their motto says it all: Drink Coffee. Do Good.® *The material used is adapted from the narrative on the Land of a Thousand Hills' website. Click the picture below and help support Land of a Thousand Hills and its mission of reconciliation. Purchase coffee and other products and help support the impact of reconcilation in Rwanda.
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Introducing “The Justice Conference,” a gathering of intentional Wasted Evangelism in Action8/25/2015  In 2013 I was introduced to The Justice Conference, a gathering of evangelical, socially-minded Christians in Philadelphia around issues of justice. I was overwhelmed as over 3,000 Christians came to be challenged about local and global issues on poverty, oppression, and other issues of justice. Hundreds of organizations, agencies, NGOs, and church-centered ministries set up booths—artists, coffee entrepreneurs, hydroponics, medical practitioners, even some young ladies in middle school raising money to send poor African children to good schools. The Justice Conference vision is “to serve the discovery of ideas, celebrate the beauty of justice, and foster a community of people who live justice together.” Althought the physical conference has found a home in Chicago, the conference is a multisite venue, being hosted in home towns and churches throughout the United States, and as well, also hosted in Hong Kong and Melbourne, Australia). They are one of the largest Biblical and Social Justice Conferences that brings world-class Speakers and artists together, all designed to catalyze emerging works of justice around the globe. The Justice Conference has emerged as one of the premier gatherings for Christian leaders, justice practitioners, students, and learners from all over the world. They seek to leverage the power of community and catalyze the work of justice globally, nationally, locally and personally.
 What if Christians truly lived out the message of Jesus and transformed their communities through their love and the practice of authentic justice?
This idea was put into action by Ken Wytsma (Antioch Church, Bend) and Stephan Bauman (World Relief), who together, founded and facilitated the first The Justice Conference in 2010. Since it’s birth, momentum continues to build and the vision for The Justice Conference continues to reach thousands of people around the world, connecting a generation of men and women around a shared concern for the vulnerable and oppressed. They have created space in the life of the church and in our busy calendars for God’s church to help find practical ways to involve people in issues of justice—both in their day-to-day lives at home and around the world—by providing first rate exhibitors, literature (at the Conference Bookstore), pre-conference sessions and spotlight organizations. The 2016 Justice Conference is scheduled for June 3-4 in Chicago. Consider joining them >> *The content above is adapted from The Justice Conference website. |
Wasted Evangelism In Action BlogEvents, moments, organizations, and other items that demonstrate the concept of Wasted Evangelism. The goal here is to connect you to Wasted Evangelism in Action. Archives
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