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The US Pakistani Interreligious Consortium (UPIC) Retrospective -2017 was created for the Intersections 10th Anniversary Intersections International Gala. The video covers four trips I made to Pakistan with Intersections between 2013 and 2017. Writer/Editor: Kierra Parlagreco; Camera/Sound: Tim Frakes; Voice Over: Kat Harrington; Sound Mix and Design: Kelly E. Harnett; Music: VideoHelper

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Here is a piece I produced in Pakistan in March 2017 for Intersections International. Intersections led a group of more than 30 delegates from 12 countries to Pakistan (Lahore and Islamabad) as part of the ongoing US-Pakistan Interreligious Consortium (UPIC) program. UPIC brings religious and academic scholars from the US and Pakistan together to foster mutual respect and shared goals for the future.s

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In 2009 I worked with the Herald of Truth covering these churches. It was a fascinating look into a semi-indigenous Christian faith culture. After Castro came to power in 1959, United States based evangelistic activity largely came to a halt. USA based Churches of Christ, however, continued to work in Cuba through Herald of Truth and within the island nation through small, local Church of Christ communities. Apparently the Churches of Christ’s non-denominational approach to organization (no central office or hierarchy) failed to raise red flags with the Castro government. Monroy’s Herald of Truth radio broadcast are still popular among Cuba’s growing evangelical minority.

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Here is a Tongan Hymn performed by artist Aisea Taimani. The song is about forgiveness. I recorded this hymn at Living Waters Ministries near New Era, Michigan. It’s part of a documentary for Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries which will air in September on ABC7 Chicago.

For more than 20 years, a Chicago-based group of African American men and women have run an Africentric outdoor ministry program for inner city youth know as SIMBA (Safe in My Brother’s Arms). As a result, hundreds of at-risk children experience the beauty of the outdoors each summer, while also being immersed in a structured, loving community filled with positive role models and supportive affirmation.

Originally targeting young African American males, SIMBA soon gave rise to SIMSA, (Safe in My Sisters Arms). Eventually, SIMBA and SIMSA gave rise to Rescue, Release, and Restore, an organization dedicated to transforming self worth and empowering youth through leadership training, artistic expression and mentorship.

In addition, a new worshiping community, Shekinah Chapel on Chicago’s south side was born and continues today as a thriving congregation affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

This summer, the organization branched out even further, launching a new initiative, MYLA, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Academy. MYLA offers young men and women a safe space where they are developed and refined as leaders for a multicultural world.

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Isak Abu Sbieh is a Palestinian dialysis patient at the Lutheran World Federation‘s Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem. Abu Sbieh lives in Kafr Aqb, an Arab village just beyond the Kalandia checkpoint north of Jerusalem. Three times a week Abu Sbieh must pass back and forth through the Kalandia checkpoint on his way to AVH for dialysis.

Kalandia is the main checkpoint between the northern West Bank and Jerusalem. The checkpoint is used by the Israeli military to control Palestinian access to East Jerusalem and Israel. Israel requires Palestinians to have permits to pass through the checkpoint to East Jerusalem and Israel for their work, medical care, education or for religious reasons. Kalandia is only 8 miles from Augusta Victoria Hospital, but the checkpoint process often takes 2-3 hours each way. Without dialysis, Abu Sbieh would perish.

Augusta Victoria Hospital AVH is the first and only hospital to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients in the Palestinian territories and is the only medical facility in the West Bank offering pediatric kidney dialysis.

The Rev. Eric C. Shafer and I recorded this story in February, 2016.

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Rabbi Firestone is traveling with Intersections International and the The US-Pakistan Interreligious Consortium (UPIC), a nonpartisan interreligious alliance consisting of religious, academic and community leaders from over fifty Pakistani and American civil society organizations. Our goal this year is to deepen relationships built during previous visits.

I’m really proud to be part of this team, swimming up stream!

The post Pakistan Again: Finding Common Ground appeared first on Tim Frakes Productions.

The Rev. Dr. Munib A. Younan, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, extends and invitation for pilgrims to visit the Holy Land to see the living stones.

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The Timoleague Friary in County Cork, Ireland was founded by the Franciscans in 1240 A.D. on site of an ancient monastery of St. Malaga. St. Malaga is credited with bringing beekeeping to Ireland. Honey production is still evident in the area. Cromwellian soldiers burned the Friary down in 1642. Today it serves as a community graveyard.

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Proud of the work I get to do with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc. (RCAP). Check out this new video on solid waste management we recorded in Puerto Rico!

Manzanilla lies on the southern coast of Puerto Rico, where the Jacaguas River meets the Caribbean Sea. Like many rural communities, they face challenges with illegal dumping, proper waste disposal, and recycling. With the help of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, residents are organizing and working with local community groups to clean up their community, create a sense of ownership for public spaces, put infrastructure in place, and educate residents to ensure a lasting change in how trash and recycling are managed. See how they launched a successful clean-up event and are organizing to get the resources they need to keep their community clean.

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