Connect on Twitter
Connect on Facebook
Connect on Orkut
Connect on Youtube
|
On Wednesday, April 21, 2010 the non-profit organization Blessed Earth and other prominent partners will host a live, one-night-only simulcast event, “Hope for Creation: A Live Simulcast Event,” that will include live musical performances, interactive audience participation, and an exclusive preview of forthcoming Blessed Earth video series “Hope for Creation,” which explores the biblical vision for care of the planet. The simulcast will be broadcast from Northland Church in Orlando, FL, the 12th largest church in America, with its lead pastor Dr. Joel Hunter serving as the moderator. View the event trailer at www.blessedearth.org . Dr. Matthew and Nancy Sleeth, the founders of the environmental nonprofit Blessed Earth, will host “Hope for Creation,” which will include biblical teaching on caring for the God’s creation, fellowship and call to action regarding caring for the Earth. “This is not a political issue. It has nothing to with national boundaries or church denominations. When we’re not using resources responsibly or being good stewards of the resources God has given us, we’re harming our neighbors and we’re not showing love and respect for God the creator,” says Nancy Sleeth. “The church has reawakened to the call to tend and protect the garden,” Dr. Sleeth said, referencing the
Garden of Eden from the book of Genesis. “This is a night to spend together in the garden — worshipping God, dedicating ourselves to be good stewards, humbling ourselves in awe of what we have been given, and understanding our role in caring for the earth.” Asbury Theological Seminary, one of the world’s largest seminaries, is partnering with Blessed Earth on the event. Churches, colleges, small groups, families and individuals are encouraged to register at www.blessedearth.org , and also preview the event trailer. Blessed Earth is an educational nonprofit that inspires and equips faith communities to become better stewards of the earth. Through outreach to churches, campuses and media, they build bridges that promote measurable environmental change and meaningful spiritual growth. The Sleeth family’s environmental journey has paralleled their faith journey. As they began to live out what it means to love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love their neighbors as themselves, they found their calling: to live more simply. The first and most important miracle for the Sleeths is that their entire family came to know Christ, not just in their heads but in their daily actions. Hanging clothes on the line, washing dishes by hand, and growing their own food are all ways of they show daily respect for God’s creation, and love for their global neighbors. From these humble beginnings a revolutionary ministry formed. Dr. Sleeth wrote a book which received a much wider, more enthusiastic response than he could have ever dreamed. Then, to address larger audiences and respond to the hundreds of speaking requests, the Sleeths formed a nonprofit called Blessed Earth (www.blessedearth.org ). In the last two years, the Sleeths have spoken in churches, colleges and the media more than 850 times. The Sleeths’ message has inspired congregations that never had creation care on their radar screen to make huge changes, quickly — switching to fair trade coffee, conducting energy audits on their buildings, creating community gardens, harvesting water with rain barrels, using ceramic dishes instead of disposables, embracing green cleaning products, and completely re-visioning building additions and renovations with a green lens. Churches have found more money in their pockets from these adjustments — money that is now available for other needs in their church families. Blessed Earth now also does a lot of work with colleges; while schools may initially embrace the Sleeths’ ideas to save money, when people embrace the principles of simplicity and conservation in their hearts the programs take on a life of their own. Many of the people who have followed the Sleeths’ testimony and lifestyle changes report that they are inspired to dramatically change areas of their everyday lives. Most inspiring of all are the people the Sleeths have met on their journey. They hear story after story about how focusing less on material things, and more on relationships with family, friends, and God, leads to happier, more meaningful, and richer lives. With God, all things are possible — including a cleaner, healthier world to leave for future generations. Dr. Sleeth is a graduate of George Washington University School of Medicine and has two post-doctoral fellowships. He is the author of Serve God and Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action (Zondervan, April 2007), the introduction to the Green Bible (2008, HarperOne), and will release a second book, The Gospel According to the Earth: Why the Good Book is a Green Book, in spring 2010. Dr. Sleeth resigned from his position as chief of the medical staff and director of the ER to teach, preach, and write about faith and the environment throughout the country. Dr. Matthew and Nancy Sleeth are available for interviews. _______________________________________________ Media Contact: Ben Laurro, 818.753.4056 PO Box 227
** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend. Share
|
Trackbacks