Film Screening: Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Illinois Public Media kicks off the 2011-2012 season of its monthly Community Cinema series this month with Pray the Devil Back to Hell, chronicling the remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country.

Thousands of women--both Christian and Muslim--came together to pray for peace and then staged a silent protest outside of the Presidential Palace. Their actions were a critical element in bringing about an agreement during the stalled peace talks. Inspiring, uplifting and motivating, it is a compelling testimony of how grassroots activism can alter the history of nations.

A free screening of the film and discussion of the issues it raises will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 6th, in Robeson Rooms A & B of the Champaign Public Library, which is partnering with Illinois Public Media to present the 10-film Community Cinema Series. WILL-TV will also air the film in October.

Did you know... The Illinois Great Rivers Conference, of which Wesley is a part, has a continuing relationship and commitment to the country of Liberia? Wesley’s District, the Iroquois River District, partners with the Kakata/Farmington and Kokoya districts. There are four major initiatives: scholarships, pastor’s salaries, church reconstruction and bed nets to combat malaria.

You may donate directly to support our sister districts through the United Methodist Advance:

• Kakata/Farmington District Scholarships
• Kakata/Farmington District Pastor Salary
• Kakata/Farmington District Reconstruction Assistance
• Kokoyah District Scholarships
• Kokoyah District Pastor Salary
• Kokoyah District Reconstruction Assistance

Love Wins: The Questions

Rob Bell opens his book, Love Wins, with his understanding of Jesus' message, the Gospel (Good News): Jesus proclaimed "the love of God ... for everybody, everywhere."

One's understanding of the message of the Gospel makes a difference. It is a window into the missio dei (the work of God in creation). It makes a difference for the content and method of evangelism (communicating the message). It impacts discipleship (how one lives out following Jesus). And that's the beginning. With respect to redemption/salvation, is there any difference between the communion of saints and the ones saved? What does it mean to be "saved"? Is salvation the message of Jesus? Has afterlife evangelism become too anthropocentric?

Rob Bell explicates his purposes for writing the book:

• To reclaim the plot of the Jesus story;
• To embrace and wrestle with the big questions of faith;
• To bring forth the wide, diverse stream of voices and perspectives from Christian tradition to bear on the questions in this book.

The first chapter gives real world context to the questions posed by these theological concepts. The result is that he sets the stage for us to wrestle with developing what is called practical theologies of the mission of God in creation and all the questions involved in this work.

Fall 2011 Wesley Grad Forum

Grad Forum is an opportunity to discuss complex theological questions.

• Tuesday, September 6 8:15pm (Movie Theater) – Faith & Reason
• Tuesday, October 4 8:15pm (Movie Theater) – Faith & Suffering (Theodicy)
• Tuesday, November 1 8:15pm (Movie Theater) - Big Fish (Film)

Fall 2011 Study

This fall, Wesley Grad Study will explore our faithful understanding of who God is and the implications of our understanding of God for the meaning of salvation.

• Tuesday, August 30 8:15 pm - Introduction & Chapter 1
• Tuesday, September 20 8:15 pm - Chapter 2
• Tuesday, September 27 8:15 pm - Chapter 3
• Tuesday, October 18 8:15 pm - Chapter 4
• Tuesday, October 25 8:15 pm - Chapter 5
• Tuesday, November 15 8:15 pm - Chapter 6
• Tuesday, November 29 8:15 pm - Chapter 7
• Tuesday, December 6 8:15 pm - Chapter 8 & Conclusion