Going to Urbana? Connect with ESN and all of InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries in the following ways.Read more…
Thanksgiving . . . Facing A Task Unfinished
Thank You, Lord, for _______________, who prayed with me to receive Jesus as my Lord & Savior. In Facing A Task Unfinished, Keith & Kristyn Getty remind us of the call before us, one engaged in the daily grind [of higher education] and in the next steps ahead of us. Read more…
# 10 Years
Tom Grosh IV and Hannah Eagleson have crafted an unique online “third place” for discussions about faith, scholarship, and academic careers. I have been blessed by their work, and I am thankful for their legacy.Read more…
Summer Snapshot: The Secret of Solitude
Same setting yet different pace of life. A transition from being an undergraduate student to graduate student at the same university is a place of mixed feelings. As I’m utilizing my summer by starting a research project, the reality of large time commitment is becoming very tangible for me as I realize how quickly time escapes from me.Read more…
Summer Snapshot: Taste, See, and Obey
This summer, everything is new. My plans have been pushed aside in favor of God’s, and He is constantly telling me that I know what’s best, and I will provide. I’ve just finished my undergrad degree in molecular biology and Asian American studies. I’m still torn between what to pursue for graduate school. Read more…
Book Response: GloboChrist, by Carl Raschke
Although I appreciate the “glocal” vision of an indigenizing and incarnational “GloboChrist,” I see the global incarnated in the local and local informing the global in local communities which richly embody the Body of Christ.Read more…
Book Response: Popcultured
Steve Turner begins “Popcultured: Thinking Christianly About Style, Media and Entertainment” by asserting that we have all become “popcultured.” Read more…
Pray for the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) in June
Praise God for growing opportunities to support grassroots networking among Christian academics, growing conference opportunities, and more. Read more…
Journalism Notes: Faith in the “Spotlight”
With Sunday night’s Oscar win for best picture, “Spotlight,” the movie about the Boston Globe’s investigation into systemic child abuse by Catholic priests, provided renewed validation of the press’s role to hold the powerful accountable in our society.Read more…
Giving Thanks: Serving Over 400 Emerging Scholars at Urbana
As we plan for 2016, we’re deeply heartened by the way emerging scholars participated in Urbana15. We’re filled with excitement as we work on ways to provide more mentoring, conferencing, and communal conversation for members in 2016.Read more…
January 2016: Most Visited ESN Blog Posts
Thank-you to the Emerging Scholars Network’s Urbana Liveblog Team for enabling our online ministry not only to finish 2015 strong, but also to begin the new year with a strong, missional vision! To God be the glory!Read more…
Book Response: Transforming Worldviews, by Paul Hiebert
Although I have read a lot of material on worldview, I do not remember the “garbled” missionary message and responses–behavior, beliefs, and worldview in the context of a community–receiving proper attention.Read more…
Book Response: Renaissance, by Os Guinness
There is no shortage of analyses of the twin crises of the church and the West, but by themselves such analyses have too often led to despondency, fear and paralysis, just as medical diagnosis without remedies can be heartless and debilitating. What we also need is a constructive overarching vision of Christian engagement in today’s advanced modern world, one that is shaped by faith in God and a Christian perspective rather than by current wisdom, and one that can inspire Christians to move out with courage to confront the best and worst that we may encounter (27).Read more…
Loving our Atheist Neighbors with Truth and Love: Rick Mattson at Urbana
How should Christians approach conversations about faith with atheists? At the Urbana Student Missions Conference, Rick Mattson examined common atheist arguments and argued for a holistic Christian response that includes intellect, care-giving, and friendship.Read more…
The Importance of Realities We Cannot See: Bryan Enderle on Science and Faith
How does modern science and scientific theory intersect with the Bible and the Christian story? At Urbana, Bryan Enderle explored philosophical arguments and quantum mechanics to bring these two seemingly separate threads together. From Dec 27 – Jan 1, volunteersRead more…
15 Posts on Mission, Justice, and the University from Urbana 2015
What does it mean to be part of a global religion, and how can we make sense of the diverse missions, values, and politics of that belonging? How can we as Christians better understand what it means to follow Jesus in a world that is more connected than ever before? After four days in St Louis for the Urbana conference, I feel closer to the heart of those questions than ever before.Read more…
Make Reconciliation, Not Just Peace: Lessons from Burundi at Urbana
When facing problems of racial hatred, Emmanuel urges us to seek reconciliation and not just peace.Read more…
Why Might Christians Be Involved in Nonviolent or Violent Protests? Lessons from Ukraine’s Euromaidan Protests at Urbana
How can Christians decide when to be involved in conflict, and how can they know when to stop? In the past two years, Christians in Ukraine have faced all of these. How have they responded?Read more…
Why should a missional student ever consider gradschool?
When Christians think about the idea of ministry or missions, graduate school might be one of the last things they would think about. Why should a missional student ever consider gradschool?Read more…
The Vocation of Law in God’s Global Mission to Bring Justice & Wholeness: Brian Dennison at Urbana
How can legal knowledge and experience bring justice to contexts outside the U.S.? The opportunities are real and plentiful. In this seminar, Brian Dennison shared what he learned as a law lecturer and coordinator of the law clinic at Uganda Christian University.Read more…
Why should Christians care about diverse worship?
Here at the Urbana conference, the worship has represented a cosmopolitan range of cultures, languages, and worship styles. . . . What motivates this focus on diversity?Read more…
The Least of these My Brothers (Matthew 25:31-46)
God’s promise to Abraham was not that he would be the progenitor of a parochial people, but that his family would be the family through which the whole earth would be blessed. Read more…
The Missional Professor in Universities Outside North America
Keith challenges us, saying that evangelicals should be commended for ministering well at the periphery of the University; however, now is the time to move to the heart of the university – the podium. There has been a clarion cry to do this in the United States and now there should be a cry to do this globally.Read more…
The Economy of the Kingdom (Matthew 20:1-16)
But the Kingdom Jesus embodied, announced and inaugurated was not quite what His countrymen had expected…or wanted. Read more…