National Service Project: Blood:Water Mission

Many fraternities have a national philanthropy. Something that all brothers come together to work towards, and in effort to improve the world in some small (or large) way. We, as Sigma Theta Epsilon, do not have a national philanthropy. We all do our part, I am certain for various needs, but I like to imagine what we can do as a united body, working together on the same cause, with the same goals.

This year at Fall Gathering, I announced a National Service Project. Until we can agree on a National Philanthropy to take on permanently, I would love to see us take on a charity each year as a National Service Project. This year we, as a National Christian Fraternity, will be working together to raise a goal of $5,000 to build a well in an African Village through our support of Blood:Water Mission.

Blood:Water Mission is a non-profit organization founded by the members of the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning band, Jars of Clay, to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.

Blood:Water Mission exists to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression. Blood:Water Mission is building clean water wells, supporting medical facilities, and focusing on community and worldview transformation, both here in America and in Africa.

Here are some heart wrenching facts to help motivate all of us to do our part to support this project:

• Every day in Africa, women and children walk as many as six miles to get clean drinking water.
• About 45% of all Africans lack clean water (or about 311 million people).
• One American Dollar buys clean drinking water for one African for one year. That’s $1 for 1 African for 1 year.
• Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the World’s population. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 60% of all people living with HIV/AIDS.

Please, join me in the fight. Visit the website. Watch the following video. Work with your chapter and your brothers and everyone else you know so that we, as Sigma Theta Epsilon, can do our part to extend a service project to meet unfilled human needs, as we live Christian lives of faith and service.

Remember, we’ve set a goal of $5,000 nationally to be raised by December 31st, 2008. Additionally, I’ve put forth a contest to the chapters: the chapter that does the best job as decided by the National Board of participating in this National Service Project and advancing the causes of the charity (including but not limited to dollars raised) will receive a brand new, customized altar kit. And, to help motivate and set an example, the National Board will be participating as another chapter.

A little later on, I’ll provide another entry to give ideas and suggestions for raising the money, and I’d love for it to turn into a giant idea-sharing session. But, for now, let’s just consider what we’re being called to, and how we will respond.

National Program Book

The Program Book for 2007-2008 was introduced and released this past weekend over Fall Gathering.

The Program Book contains ideas, activities, discussion points, and other content that will help to focus the brotherhood on the 2007-2008 program theme "Made For Love". I will be discussing some discussion points and highlighting activities on this blog.

The Program Book was distributed to all chapters last night via e-mail in a .pdf format. It is also available for download on the frontpage of the www.sigmatheta.org homepage. It is available for direct download by clicking here.

I hope this tool will be very useful in advancing the purposes and principles of Sigma Theta Epsilon while focusing on the program theme of "Made For Love"

--Tyler

Fall Gathering Discussional

At Fall Gathering, we gathered in the English Chapel at Ohio Northern University, and we had some praise and worship (thanks again, Quinn, for leading that), and we had what I’ve been calling a “discussional”.

I opened it by looking at a clip from “Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones”. The clip I showed was a conversation between Anakin Skywalker and Padme. The dialogue is what we primarily focused on:

Padme: It must be difficult having sworn your life to the Jedi... not being able to visit the places you like... or do the things you like.
Anakin: Or be with the people I love.
Padme: Are you allowed to love? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi.
Anakin: Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is essential to a Jedi's life. So you might say, that we are encouraged to love.

I shared briefly on how Anakin Skywalker was twisting the meaning of love, and mistaking two different types of love to make himself feel justified in selfish action. And I asked us to consider how we might twist words and twist love to fit our own desires and plans, rather than God’s at times.

I then looked at John 21:15-23

15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

20Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

22Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

We talked a little bit about confusion between Peter and Jesus on the difference between Agape love and Philia love. We talked a little bit about how there is a time for both, and a time to be clear just exactly what love we are talking about and just exactly what love we need to be sharing and receiving.

We then had a good discussion. Points were hit upon about the power of words, the need to stick to your words, and the need to be authentic. Brothers from many chapters and a couple different eras shared, and I wanted to give us the opportunity to continue the discussion online, and to allow more people to share their thoughts.

So, please, come, share. Learn, teach, and help all of us be smarter than any one of us …