two cents worth, March 1 '11
Hi everyone, and sorry for the long layoff between newsletters. We've been very active in other respects however, and here are a few highlights from early 2011 ...
new prayer group... A long time in the making, we launched a much needed not one sparrow prayer group on Facebook last week. So often we're confronted by instances of animal suffering, personal or massive in scale, both of which can be overwhelming and deflating. We hope the prayer group will encourage us all to share these burdens with each other, and to pray individually and collectively for the needs of God's creatures and those who care for them. So far, it's off to a wonderful and enheartening start. Please read our introduction to the group, and consider joining with us!
prayer requests... If I may, I'd like to share a couple of prayer requests specifically related to not one sparrow. With our incorporation efforts coming up short last year, we are in real need of an established nonprofit to take us on as a 'fiscal sponsor,' which would provide some administrative support and tax exemption for donors until we have the infrastructure in place to function on our own. Please pray that God would bring along the right fit, a group which shares our values and mission, and with which we can have a trusting and mutually beneficial relationship. I would also be grateful for your prayer that God would give me grace and wisdom in all my responsibilities with not one sparrow, and ongoing provision for my family through this difficult in-between season.
upcoming events... I'm grateful to be back at Wake Up Weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which takes place from March 10-12. I'll be there on Saturday, speaking on "Why Creation Care Needs Creature Care." March 13th, I'm honored to introduce my work with not one sparrow and the basics of being "Custodians of God's Creatures" at our home church, Grace Missionary Church in Zion, Illinois (where I also happen to be building custodian, see what I did there?). And April 8-9, I'm looking forward to being part of a brand new Creation Care Summit outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I'll be speaking again on the place of animal stewardship within the creation care movement, and introducing the short film "Eating Mercifully." For more information about any of these events and perhaps more to come, please see the 'events' page on our website or on Facebook.
on the weblog... We've been continuing our FAQ series with some excellent input from friends, with questions ranging from "Is caring for animals a valid Christian concern?" to "Have Other Christians Cared About Animals, Past and Present?" Most recently, we've asked "Is not one sparrow Part of the Animal Rights Movement?", "Do You Just Care About Pets, or Other Animals Also?" and "Does not one sparrow Advocate for Vegetarianism?" We've got just a few questions left, including the place of animal stewardship in the creation care movement, on insects (can't wait!), and whether animals have souls. By the way, in between posts on our blog, please know we share additional articles and stories of interest through our profiles on Facebook and Twitter.
roll credits... Sincere and overdue thanks for highlighting not one sparrow go to Andrew and Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, Arlene and Cherie of Bravehearts, Anna and Being the Change, Caring for Our Blessings, Eileen and SustainLane Creation Care, Fiachra's Hollow, Gretchen and Renewal, Hayley and The Vegan Christian Blogger, Jim and Rooftop, Karla and Amazing Bongos, Kendra and Flourish, Kris and PETA Prime, Lapis Lazuli, Lidija and SiLa PhotoArt, Megan and Sorta Crunchy, Pac Veg, Stephanie and Change.org Animals, Steve and Christian Nation, Valerie and Black. Female. Christian. Vegan., and William Kruidenier.
Thank you as always for keeping in touch, and grace and peace to you,
Ben, not one sparrow
p.s. If you happen to be looking for any ideas for Lent, I wonder if these posts might offer some suggestions ...
(drawing courtesy Ali Beem)
March 1, 2011
Reader Comments (2)
This is an absolutely beautiful website, you guys are great---thank you for advocating for creature care within creation care!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for your kind note and affirmation, Andrea, and for being interested in our site and cause. It means a lot! best wishes to you, Ben (NOS admin)