‘Supper at Emmaus 2’ by James He Qi.

The New York Times recently featured James He Qi and several other world artists in ‘Searching for a Jesus Who Looks More Like Me.’

Next week (October 15), He Qi will deliver the Vancouver School of Theology’s annual Somerville Lecture.

Eric Copage’s article began with these words:

Close your eyes and imagine that Jesus is in front of you.

Is the man kneeling in prayer in the Garden at Gethsemane Chinese? Is the man sitting at the table of the Last Supper Navajo? Is the man dragging his cross toward Golgotha Nigerian? Or is the crucified figure a woman?

Likely as not, the image that presents itself to most Americans is of a lithe, bearded man with shoulder-length, chestnut-colored hair.

And whether he is a dashboard Jesus or the nearly 100-foot tall Cristo Redentor, arms outstretched atop a mountain rising over Rio de Janeiro, he is likely to be male – and white.

And said this about He Qi’s ‘Peace, Be Still’:

The Chinese painter James He Qi (pronounced “huh chi”) depicts the gospel story of Jesus and his disciples suddenly caught in a storm.

As the waves rise, the disciples turn fearfully to Jesus. With outstretched arms, he stills the winds and the water. As in Mark 4:39, “He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, Be still.”

“He Qi is influenced by the simple and beautiful artwork of the people in rural China,” said Mr. [Thomas] Hastings, quoting from the website of the Overseas Ministries Study Center [of which he is executive director].

“With bold colors, embellished shapes and thick brush strokes, he blends Chinese folk art and the iconography of the Western Middle Ages and Modern Art.”

Go here for the full article.

He Qi said this about his upcoming talk, ‘A Brief History of Chinese Christian Art and My Journey of Christian Art Creation’:

Christian art has been developed in China since 1,400 years ago,  it’s mixed the western style with Chinese localization. It’s divided into four periods: Nestorian (Tang & Yuan Dynasty); Society of Jesus (Late Ming to Middle Qing Dynasty); Semi-Colonization (After Opium War to 1949); Contemporary (After Cultural Revolution).

As for my personal experience to be involved the Fourth movement, I’d like to share my witness, my suffering and my hopes.

Dr. James He Qi is an artist-in-residence and visiting scholar at Fuller Theological Seminary, former professor at Nanjing Theological Seminary (1983 – 2005) and visiting professor of Nanjing University and Nanjing Art Institute (1998 – 2002).

The Overseas Ministries Study Centre (OMSC) has featured at least a dozen artists, mainly from Asia, in its Artists in Residence Program, and has published several books on their work. Their 2006 book on He Qi is sold out, but he produced one himself in 2013.

Daniel Whitehead will speak during the Church Mental Health Summit October 10.

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries is fully involved. Leslie Robertson, communications manager for the ministry, describes what they will be doing:

This month at Sanctuary, we’re doing something new. We’re going to spend the next few weeks promoting mental health awareness in easily-accessible and shareable ways, through our social media channels, collaborations with our ambassadors and friends, blog posts, and more.

We’ll be specifically focusing on the Five Ways to Wellbeing, as outlined in a UK study by the New Economics Foundation.

Why October?

Every year in the first week of October, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health leads a national public education campaign on Mental Illness Awareness. Additionally, World Federation for Mental Health instituted World Mental Health Day on October 10 in order to increase mental health awareness and education, as well as advocate against social stigma.

The goals of these two major campaigns go hand-in-hand with our month-long campaign, which is designed to provide practical, engaging, social media-sized pieces that raise awareness, encourage self-care practices and provide helpful additional resources.

Go here for the full article.

Sanctuary CEO Daniel Whitehead will take part in what looks like a major gathering this Saturday (October 10), the Church Mental Health Summit, “a one-day virtual event equipping the church to support mental health in their communities.” His topic will be ‘Six Steps towards Faith and Mental Health Integration.’

Oikos Project

Holy Cross Church in Crescent Beach. From Ed Hird’s blog.

Members of an Anglican Church are feeling called to buy an old Catholic church in Crescent Beach.

Admitting that the undertaking is particularly challenging during a pandemic, Rev. Ed Hird makes the case for the Oikos Project in the current (online) edition of The Light magazine:

The community of All Saints Church believe God is calling them to make the Holy Cross Church in Crescent Beach their home. In order to do that, they need to raise $3 million: just over $2 million to buy the building and parking lot and just under $1 million to refurbish the inside of the building and parking lot.

The first priority is to maintain a sacred space. The historic tradition of Holy Cross Church is that people have prayed in that church since 1946.

Keeping a sacred space will honour the historical integrity of the congregations who have gone before. It also means that the wider community will have access to the sanctuary during the day for prayer, reflection and rest.

The second imperative for purchasing this church is to ensure that a ministry centre will complement the sacred space. A ministry centre will provide the Church community a place to serve the wider community.

Should you be interested in supporting this vision, saving an historic church, and investing in the Kingdom of God, please contact The Right Reverend Peter Klenner, pastor at All Saints Community Church (604-209-5570).

Go here for the full story, and here for more information and a video about the project.

Bible Gateway

April Yamasaki

After 25 years in pastoral ministry, April Yamasaki is “embracing the writing life in all its delight and challenge.” She offers “some of my writing on Scripture, prayer, books I’m reading and other acts of faith in everyday life” on her personal site and on When You Work for the Church.

She just posted a helpful review of the new Bible Gateway, which begins with this:

When I read Scripture, I much prefer reading off the printed page from a Bible that I can hold in my hands, feel the weight, finger the pages, and take my time. But when I’m online and want to quote Scripture in a blog article, or need to double check a reference for a sermon, I often turn to BibleGateway.com as a free and easy-to-use source for online Bible translations.

I’ve already reviewed Bible Gateway’s free Bible audio app, and today I’m happy to review the newly designed Bible Gateway website.

Both of April’s sites are worth checking out, not least because she has enough insight to include articles such as No More Resources Please.

Next Bishop elected

Bishop-elect John Stevens.

Last week I wrote about the upcoming election of the next bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster. Here is the beginning of the denomination’s release, following the election:

On Saturday, October 3, the Voting Members (Synod) of the 141 year old Anglican Diocese of New Westminster representing the 66 parishes and 3 additional worshipping communities of the Diocese elected as the Bishop-elect (Coadjutor) the Reverend John Stephens, 54, currently Rector (priest-in-charge) of St. John’s, Shaughnessy located at 1490 Nanton Avenue at Granville in Vancouver.

Stephens will assume the role of Diocesan Bishop when Archbishop Melissa Skelton, currently Bishop of the Diocese, retires February 28, 2021. . . .

Go here for a full account.

October 8, 2020

Christian Schools Canada Virtual Conference 2020 – October 8, 2020 at 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
Webinar: An Update on Euthanasia Legislation in Canada – October 8, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

October 10, 2020

Church Mental Health Summit – October 10, 2020 at All Day
Thanksgiving Drive-Through Food Drive – October 10, 2020 at 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

October 11, 2020

Freedom Forum Panel: The Grimkés Speak Out on Faith, Race, and Civil Rights – October 11, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

October 13, 2020

Alpha Webinar: Ministry, Mission and the Future Church – October 13, 2020 at 10:00 am - 10:45 am
FaithTech Vancouver Fall Kick-off: Bridging the Gap Between Faith & Technology – October 13, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

October 14, 2020

Faster, Higher, More Moral? Human Enhancement and Christianity – October 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

October 15, 2020

The Global Leadership Summit – October 15, 2020 - October 16, 2020 at 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
The Church, the State & the Pandemic – October 15, 2020 at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Somerville Lecture: Artist James He Qi – October 15, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

October 16, 2020

Canadian Foodgrains Bank Virtual Concert: Quonset Brothers | Kristel Peters & Korey Peters | Steve Bell – October 16, 2020 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Change Conference 2020: Free Online Canadian Youth Conference – October 16, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
The Unchained Gospel Heart for Asia Youth Celebration – October 16, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

October 17, 2020

The Unchained Gospel: Heart for Asia Conference – October 17, 2020 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Chew on This! e-rally – October 17, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Progressive Book Launch – Aaron White: Recovering – October 17, 2020 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

October 19, 2020

Dr. Christopher Wright: The Great Story and the Great Commission – October 19, 2020 - October 21, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

October 20, 2020

Salvation Army Webinar: Join the Conversation – October 20, 2020 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

October 21, 2020

Together at Midday: Toni Kim – October 21, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Chaplains Connect – October 21, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

October 22, 2020

Book Launch with Dr. Matthew J. Thomas – October 22, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Dialogue on Aging: The Fountain of Health – Practical Tools for Positive Mental Health – October 22, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
REVEAL webinars (Thursday evenings) – October 22, 2020 - November 5, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
Suitcase Stories – October 22, 2020 - October 25, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

October 23, 2020

Operation World Online Family Conference 2020 – October 23, 2020 - October 25, 2020 at All Day
TWU Spartans Sports Leadership Superconference – October 23, 2020 at 8:45 am - 4:00 pm
ARPA Canada Fall Tour 2020: Defending Our Christian Legacy of Liberty – October 23, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

October 24, 2020

National Walk and Talk to End Social Isolation – October 24, 2020 at All Day
ARPA Canada Fall Tour 2020: Defending Our Christian Legacy of Liberty – October 24, 2020 at 9:30 am - 11:00 am
M2/W2 Association: Portraits of Change Online Fundraiser – October 24, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

October 26, 2020

Human Sexuality and Christian Ethics Discussion Series (Mondays) – October 26, 2020 - November 23, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Violence in the Bible: A Conversation with Dr. Matthew Lynch – October 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Mao vs. God: State Control of Churches in China under Xi – October 26, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

October 27, 2020

InterSession 2020: Finding the Future of Church Planting in Canada – October 27, 2020 - October 28, 2020 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
LifeCanada presents 'The Culture Call (monthly, Tuesday evenings) – October 27, 2020 - December 15, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Icons: Praying with Our Eyes – October 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Journey Discipleship Course – October 27, 2020 - March 2, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Community Cafe: How to Have Good Conversations in Community – October 27, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

October 28, 2020

Explore Alpha, with Jason Ballard – October 28, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am

October 29, 2020

Earthkeepers: Prayer Night for Bold Climate Action – October 29, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

October 30, 2020

musica intima: the spirit's dwelling – October 30, 2020 at All Day

November 1, 2020

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – November 1, 2020 at All Day

November 2, 2020

KAIROS Canada Fall Online Forum: For the Love of Creation (Monday evenings) – November 2, 2020 - November 30, 2020 at 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

November 4, 2020

Together at Midday: Matthew Lynch – November 4, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
SENT Conference 2020 (Wednesday evenings) – November 4, 2020 - November 25, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

November 5, 2020

A Taste of Dignity: JustWork’s 14th Annual Fundraiser – November 5, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jordan Klassen: Tell Me What to Do – November 5, 2020 - November 7, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

November 16, 2020

ELO Forum Online – November 16, 2020 at 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

November 18, 2020

Dialogue on Aging: Sleep Health for a COVID-19 World – November 18, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
John Owen: Protecting Democracy from the Outside – November 18, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

November 28, 2020

Iron Sharpens Iron Conference – November 28, 2020 at 8:30 am - 3:45 pm
The Church and Affordable Housing, by CityGate Leadership Forum – November 28, 2020 at 10:00 am - 12:45 pm