The Henn Family Statement
Henn Family Statement:
The Henn family is grateful for the concern expressed for their two sons, Nathan and Kyle. We are devastated by the loss of Nate in the terrorist attack in Uganda, and the pain is immense. We are blessed that by the grace of God we did not lose our second son, Kyle, when the plane bringing him to be with our family crashed Monday. Our prayers and wishes go out to the men that died and were injured in providing help to our family.
Nathan’s death shocked and hit us hard. A parent is not designed to lose a child. It is important to us that we make clear Nathan’s purpose in being in Uganda at that time. We could not be more proud of our son and brother, and of the man that he was and the life that he lived. He died doing the ministry that brought him the most joy, following Christ to reach and help the children of Northern Uganda.
STRONG ONE
Terrorist attacks exploded in the capital of Uganda last Sunday.
Suicide bombs tore through crowds that had gathered in celebration to watch the final match of the World Cup.
Tons of reports and news outlets have been telling the story, but the terrorists have not only killed 76 people, they’ve shaken an unstable nation and took the life of our own Nate Henn.
Nate “Oteka” Henn, was a volunteer with Invisible Children in San Diego for over a year and a half. He dedicated his life to following Jesus and was a man after God’s own heart.
He was a servant and a peacemaker who never wanted to be in the spot light.
His Ugandan Legacy Tour teammate, Innocent, gave him the name “Oteka”, which means “Strong One”. The two grew close on IC’s Legacy Tour in the US and Nate had recently traveled to Uganda to visit Innocent and experience “Africa” for the first time.
One of Nate’s dreams was to visit Uganda and travel to Gulu to see the programs he’d so selflessly supported through fundraising, awareness and advocacy.
We’re beyond thankful that Nate was with his friends Innocent, Tony and Lindsey when he moved on to be with his maker.
IC has put together a Memorial Fund for Nate Henn, www.natehenn.com, and an incredibly well made video to give you a glimpse of who Nate was and what he stood for.
How Missionaries Lost Their Chariots of Fire
WALL STREET JOURNAL
The 1910 World Missionary Conference was a watershed moment for Protestantism. Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, the assembled 1,200 Protestants believed that Christianity was on the cusp of spreading to every corner of the world, and that Christ would come again once every ear had heard the good news of salvation. Their master plan for missions would hasten his return.
But Edinburgh 2010, the centenary conference that concluded last month, drew only about a quarter of the crowd and received attention only from a few Christian publications. The modern master plan was less ambitious as well: a call to global missions and "to witness and evangelism in such a way that we are a living demonstration of the love, righteousness and justice that God intends for the whole world."
This dramatic change was summed up at a small gathering of academics and missions professionals at Fuller Theological Seminary in late May. "At (1910) Edinburgh, people thought they were going to take over the world," said C. Douglas McConnell, dean of Fuller's School of Intercultural Studies in his opening remarks. "And now many of our students wonder if they should even try."
Indeed, colonialism is dead (thankfully). But the term "missions" itself now carries with it a negative connotation, even in politically and theologically conservative circles. Christians today typically travel abroad to serve others, but not necessarily to spread the gospel.
Continued here.
By BRAD A. GREENBERG
From Seed to Sow
An Invisible Children Cotton Initiative staff member wearing an IC t-shirt that will eventually be made with the certified organic cotton surrounding him. In the background, 12 IC Roadies listen closely as the organic cotton "from seed to sow" process is explained by IC's Agronomist, John Tembo (my former housemate in Uganda who's originally from Zimbabwe).
IC's Agronomist, John Tembo, explaining the "from seed to sow" process of cotton to the IC roadies. Directly to the right of John is the General Manager of a t-shirt factory in Kampala called Fenix and to his left is a organic cotton t-shirt buyer from Japan.
A Good Life
To be honest, I’ve been feeling really good about myself lately and have been contemplating how I’m living a good life, but…
It’s all been a facade.
A delusion based on the principle of self-interest.
My own personal interests have diverted my own good intent to live for the interest of others.
Let me explain in more detail.
Together We’re Free
“For all of us to be free, none of us can be enslaved. We need God. We need each other. “ - Anonymous
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Invisible Children just released a new documentary called Together We’re Free. It follows the course of IC’s most recent advocacy event, titled “The Rescue”. (Watch the film online for free at http://www.livestream.com/invisiblechildren under the “On Demand” section of the website.)
The event encouraged international youth who truly believe in and value creativity, idealism and sacrifice to tangibly make a difference by “abducting themselves.” These abductions represented the injustice that has been unleashed on east African children who’ve been taken from their families and forced to become soldiers in a rebel army known as the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army).
On Friday morning, I showed this film to the entire Invisible Children Uganda staff of 80, a unique group that is comprised of people from different regions, tribes and backgrounds from all over Uganda. At first, showing the new film seemed like a horrible and potentially damaging idea. I was worried that the culture of each Ugandan individual would collide with footage of an American culture that they’ve never experienced firsthand. The staff perspectives would be limited and would affect their understanding of the IC supporters featured in the film.
My mind was like a remixed album that continually screeched, “What will they think?” “What will they think?” “What will they think?”