 Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash By Michael Edgar Myers Founding Director I'm writing while reflecting on "Giving Tuesday," the designated Tuesday after Thanksgiving when not-for-profit organizations concentrate on requesting financial donations. It's a laudable period of end-of-the-year generosity, even if a tad overwhelming.
No doubt you have received many "Giving Tuesday" email requests in recent days. If you're like me, you may feel a twinge of pressure to try giving to everyone, as if #GivingTuesday is a do-it-or-lose it competition with leftovers from Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For us, "Giving Tuesday" isn't a landing site, it's a launching pad of Yes, And... Y So, to be transparent, yes, this IS a request to give...AND it is not. Yes, we would be thankful if you gave financially to Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries (today, even), AND I want to let you know there's a deeper reason I'm writing. It's to thank you for the intangible gifts you have given us already so that we may give to others.
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"I know the plans I have for you..." -- Jeremiah 29:11 by Michael Edgar Myers, Founding Director
We at Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries are proponents of balanced ministry teams for many reasons. By balanced ministry teams, we mean a modern version of Paul's "spiritual gifts" analysis: we all have many gifts, but the same spirit. In essence, we are working toward the same goal -- for Christ and through Christ -- who provides the gifts and the vision. Our humanness, however, can frequently affect all of the above -- our vision and the use of gifts of God. A balanced team, in contemporary terms, takes into account assorted ages, ethnicities and skills , which not only provide practical tools, but also inspiration and motivation. We have experienced this ourselves in the younger people who have served with us over the past five years as KIT has expanded our performance and teaching concepts. 
Despite her shy off-stage persona, to Marissa Brown, leading congregants through musical worship is a natural as breathing.
The phrase "born-again Christian" is redundant. One cannot be Christian unless born again, as Jesus explained and was quoted in the scripture of John. The "born again" in His reference is rebirth of a man's natural spirit to rebel against God. That is, to disobey God, to rely on self, to think of self first. These are the basic elements of life collectively tagged "sin" -- Jesus says this human spirit, the spirit of sin -- must be "reborn" to submit to God's will and guidance. This is done, first, by recognizing and acknowledging the life of Christ as revealed in Scriptures, then by living according to His teachings. In its simplest expression, this is what it means to be born again. To renew a spirit to follow God's lead. But what of those people who were born with such a spirit. The spirit to follow God and not sin that seems intrinsic from birth. Are there such people? Especially in our age? 
Reading, meditating and living scripture passages early in life can plant seeds for future comfort in difficult situations. -- Photo by Samantha Sophia on Unsplash
by Michael Edgar Myers, Founding Director
Cami Myers, an intern with Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries, has been compiling resources and recommendations for individuals managing mental health challenges and posting them in a series of online essays we call “A Collegian’s Guide to Mental Health.” We outlined Cami's background and how these essays came to be in an earlier post, "College, Ministry & Stress." Today, we provide access to the essays themselves and Biblical connections the KIT Ministries staff made while editing them. Although the essays are not “Christian” in nature, reading them revealed parallels between the practical concepts and Bible basics. There are seven scriptures related to the contents of the four essays themselves, and three other principles that provide perspective on Cami’s spiritual health journey summarized in the four essays. 
Hear "Free Indeed," based on John 8:36, on KIT's "Freedom Song" YouTube Playlist.
All music that tells the story of redemption through Jesus Christ is gospel music. Yet in some circles "gospel music" is confined to a niche -- a certain style of music; a style of music associated with African-Americans. In that sense, components of "gospel music" are symbolized by two easily identifiable symbols: a choir and robes. These symbols come from a powerful aesthetic in African-American heritage; yet there are dangers in defining gospel music and African-Americans by these two symbols alone. |
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