“I am concerned that more and more expressions of Christianity in the U.S. seem to leave Jesus out of the equation,” said Vickie Wiley Willis, a retired strategic human resources leader. “We need all the help we can get to center our faith on the life and teachings of Jesus.”
She and her husband Scott, members of Nashville’s Glendale Baptist Church, were early to engage in the Jesus Worldview Initiative.
The initiative seeks to effectively articulate and advance the following of Jesus as the defining priority of the Christian faith. It is timely and needed.
In January, Belmont University welcomed the initiative as part of the school’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership directed by Jon Roebuck.
Overhead costs are low due to part-time leadership and Belmont’s supportive services — including receiving and processing designated gifts. Such gifts directly determine the programming and resources to be carried out by the initiative.
Potential projects include:
• creating and maintaining an online preaching, teaching and learning library
• planning an annual conference with creative and insightful program personnel
• strategic ecumenical engagement
• facilitating more and diverse voices to convey the message
• producing new digital and published resources
• collaborating with organizations that exhibit shared values and trust.
Randy Brantley, a development professional and Episcopal lay leader in Concord, N.C., is an early supporter as well.
“There’s never been a more urgent need during my lifetime to uplift the fundamental tenets of Jesus’ mission and ministry,” said Brantley.
“I need to be reminded, and the faith community needs to be reminded, of the paramount importance of viewing scripture and life itself through the lens of Jesus’ example,” he continued.
Likewise, Tim Willis, a retired campus minister and chaplain in Clemson, S.C., and his wife Lynda, have made early, generous gifts.
“We support the Jesus Worldview Initiative because at its core is a holistic approach to being much more intentional with our lovingkindness, inclusivity and message of justice,” he said.
Visit jesusworldview.org to discover more about the initiative and how to be supportive.
John D. Pierce is director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative, part of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership.