Vital Pastors Program
Speicher Cohort

(group above, from right to left)
Belita Mitchell  - pastor, Harrisburg, PA First Church of the Brethren
Wally Landis  - pastor emeritus, Palmyra, PA Church of the Brethren
Tim Speicher  - pastor, Wyomissing, PA Church of the Brethren
Del Keeney  - pastor, Mechanicsburg, PA Church of the Brethren
Pete Haynes
   		 - pastor, Long Green Valley  Church of the Brethren
                       Glen Arm, MD

 
Our Critical Question:

How do we develop and sustain courage and passion
to minister to our communities within a culture of fear?
  

Our Report
November 11, 2013
Mary & Joseph Retreat Center
 

1. Opening video and music montage (images of fear)
                  “What does fear look like?”
                  “What are you afraid of?”
                  “What response does fear bring out of you?”
        
2. Introduction of Cohort and Critical Question
        
3. Listening to what the sciences say about fear
        
4. Listening to what the world says about fear
        
5. Listening to what our faith says about fear
        
6. A song from Nigeria (see below)
        
7. "Faces of Nigeria" a video running as we take a stretch/bathroom break
        
8. A song from Nigeria (see below)
        
9. Introduction of Immersion Retreat
        
10. Nigeria Trip video and sound track – a 25 min. .ppt montage of pics and clips
              We do not wish to put our friends in Nigeria at risk by posting videos of our discussions here.
              Westerners need to be aware that things we say and share publicly do have an impact elsewhere.
        
11. Interacting with the Jim Joshua story
                    after introduction, listen to his testimony
                                 (mp3 audio file and transcribed .pdf file)
                    divide into 5 small groups to discuss 
        
12. Personal Reflections (we aren't posting these)
        

Bibliography

         Leadership and the Culture Of Fear
Scott Bader-Saye - Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear, Brazos Press, ©2007
Bart Campolo - Kingdom Works: True Stories About God and His People in Inner City America, Vine Books, ©2001
Michelle G. Craske,
& others, editors		 - Fear and Learning: From Basic Processes to Clinical Implications, American Psychological Association, ©2006
 
Edwin H. Freidman - Generation to Generation, Guilford Publications, Inc., ©1986
Frank Furedi - The Politics of Fear, Continuum International Publishing Group, Ltd. ©2005 (author interview)
Israel Galindo - The Hidden Lives of Congregations: Discerning Church Dynamics, Alban Institute, ©2004
Daniel Gardner
  		- The Science of Fear: How the Culture of Fear Manipulates Your Brain, ©2005 Penguin Group.
         (some of our notes)
Barry Glassner - The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things  (online book review)
Miriam Greenspan
  		- Healing Through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear & Despair, ©2003, Shambhala Publications
         (some of our notes)
Hugo Holzmann - Terror,  ©2008 Xlibris Corporation - a novel.
Ephraim Kadala - Turn the Other Cheek: A Christian Dilemma, ©2009, ACTS
Eric H.F. Law - Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear    (some of our notes)
Robert E. Quinn - Building the Bridge as You Walk on It: A Guide for Leading Change, Jossey-Bass, ©2004
  - Deep Change: Discovering the Leader Within, Jossey-Bass, ©1996
Bruce Reed - The Task of the Church and the Role of its Members,  Grubb Institute. (a 28 page online article)
Marc Siegel, MD - False Alarm: the Truth about the Epidemic of Fear, ©2005 Wiley.
Peter L. Steinke - Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times, ©2006 Alban  Amazon     (some of our notes)
Peter N. Stearns - American Fear: the Causes and Consequences of High Anxiety, ©2005 by Routledge.
Charles Webel - Terror, Terrorism, and the Human Condition, Palgrave McMillan, ©2005
   

         Spiritual Disciple
Walter Brueggemann - Spirituality of the Psalms, Fortress Press, ©2002
Ann Weiser Cornell - The Focusing Guide’s Manual, Focusing Resources, ©1993
  - The Power of Focusing: A Practical Guide to Emotional Self-Healing, New Harbinger, ©1996
  - The Radical Acceptance of Everything: Living a Focusing Life, ©1995
Jill Kimberly Geoffrion - Praying the Labyrinth: A Journal for Spiritual Exploration, Hartwell, The Pilgrim Press, ©1999
Sanders G. Laurie and Melvin J. Tucker - Centering: A Guide to Inner Growth, Destiny Books, ©1978, 1993
 
Mark E. Thibodeaux, S.J. - Armchair Mystic: Easing into Contemplative Prayer, St. Anthony Messenger, ©2001
  
Thomas Merton - New Seeds of Contemplation, Abbey of Gethsemani, ©1961
Jane E. Vennard - Be Still: Designing and Leading Contemplative Retreats, Alban Institute, ©2000

Songs along our Journey

Nigerian:

  "Nasa cana nan"
   "You and I"                  - both in .pdf file

a favorite of Belita:

 "His eye is on the sparrow" (concluded her personal reflection)

by plh:

  "It'll be all right" (concluded his personal reflection)
Videos:
Faces of Nigeria

   

 Elephants we encountered at Yankari National Park
 

 
 
 
a children's story from our trip - Traveling with children (mp3)
 
a page of Nigerian Resources (some found on this page)