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Pragmatic Religiosity

One of my favorite China books is Peter Hessler’s Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory. Shortly after the book was published in 2010, a CNN travel reporter interviewed Hessler about the book. There was one particular exchange that caught my attention.

Dancing with Elephants

Ministry partnerships are complex and challenging. Throw in the cross-cultural dimension and one is certain to encounter some form of conflict. As Westerners, our first reaction is to confront and resolve. Unfortunately, our swift and direct action may leave our Chinese colleagues reeling from the confrontation and feeling hurt.

We Walk This Road Together

In January Rev. Gu Yuese, pastor of Chongyi Church in Hangzhou, one of China’s largest churches, was removed by the Chinese Christian Council, the governing body of the Chinese Protestant Church. Often referred to as China’s first mega-church, the sanctuary seats more than 5000 people, and each Sunday sees around 10,000 people in attendance at the worship services.

What Is Disability?

As she defines disability, Ms. Venzke explains the difference between “disability” and “impairment” and discusses the usage of these words. She introduces two models frequently used in understanding disability and relates these to both the individual and society. She continues by examining how society views those with an impairment pointing out both positive and negative factors.

Human Services via Faith Groups

Without a complete understanding of what disability is, human services may not adequately address personal and social environmental issues—they may even exacerbate them. Some factors regarding disability can be attributed to discrimination in the social environment. In his discussion of human services delivery, the author focuses on faith communities, pointing out at least seven benefits they provide.

Observations of Dynamics in Families Affected by Autism

Families affected by disability have a number of common emotions and experiences regardless of ethnicity or geographical location. The author looks at common concerns, struggles, and hopes that parents face when their child is diagnosed with a disability and specifically, with autism. He also alerts us to some of the programs, helps, and therapies available to deal with these concerns.