Click here to open our Harris prayer letter for November. Enjoy!
In this month’s edition, we celebrate ICE’s five year anniversary, a new opportunity for people to help a new ministry in Tuva and more.
August prayer letter
Posted by Bill on August 1st, 2008Hello! Click here to open our August prayer letter. In this month’s letter we recount our adventure in Tuva, Siberia. Enjoy!
Report on Tuva trip
Posted by Robin on July 26th, 2008What a trip! It totally exceeded all our expectations. We had the most amazing team; they always had a great attitude, and everyone worked together to make it a tremendously effective and joyful time. Click here for the pdf report - Tuva report
More responses from the Ethnodoxology course…
Posted by Robin on July 26th, 2008What a blessing it is to have articulate, enthusiastic students! Check out this link to a short podcast of worship leader/songwriter Rebecca Dennison recounting what she learned last month at the Ethnodoxology Course at Southern Seminary.
In addition, there is a second podcast interview with Rebecca addressing these questions:
1) How can ethnodoxology be used as a tool for racial reconciliation?
2) What are some strategies that missionaries and churches can use, and how can missionaries and churches work together?
In other news, an article came out by the news service of Southern Seminary about the course — check out this link!
I loved administrating this course — but I had a great team of ICE folks collaborating together, so it’s not surprising that it was such a joy. They are great to work with!
Off to Russia…
Posted by Robin on June 14th, 2008In just a few hours, Bill and I will be on our way to the airport for our first ever trip to Tuva, in southern Siberia. We are taking a team of eight people on an ethnodoxology survey trip to explore how Heart Sounds International can most effectively encourage the use of heart music among the indigenous peoples of the Republic of Tuva.
The last month has been a whirl of activity for us, as our trip got re-directed from Yakutia to Tuva and we prepared for two of our biggest events this year — 1) the Ethnodoxology Course we helped to teach at Southern Seminary [read an earlier blog to see how it went], and 2) leading our first-ever short-term team to Russia. Having these two events back to back has really stretched us, but the Lord has sent wonderful people to help us; from a friend at OM who volunteered to compile E-Dox course evaluations for me, to an ethnomusicology intern from Moody (with us for 6 weeks) who is doing immense amounts of research on Tuvan music for the team. As an extra bonus, one of our team members is studying music in Moscow, and his parents are providing a “home base” for us there as we enter and leave the country. The greatest blessing of all is that we have a wonderful group that we’re taking with us; all of them are people we know and love — and all are wonderful musicians with a heart for ethnodoxology. We’re off!
First-ever Ethnodoxology course enjoys enthusiastic reviews!
Posted by Robin on June 14th, 2008Press release - June 14, 2008
An “Introduction to Ethnodoxology” course, developed by a collaborative team from the International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE) in cooperation with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, saw a great response from students when it was held for the first time in June, 2008:
· “This course will challenge you to see the world with new eyes”
· “The Ethnodoxology course is perfect for … pastors, mission committee members, worship leaders and coordinators of mission trips. It has definitely broadened my horizons while equipping me better for ministry here in my local home church as well as cross-culturally.”
· “My excitement over the class has not waned. My new phrase is “Something I learned from my class last week was…” Thanks again.”
In addition to the learning sessions, the students enjoyed active participation in a number of other events – visits to local ethnic churches and a moving Global Hymn Festival led by Dr. C. Michael Hawn, well-known speaker and author on world congregational song.
ICE Coordinator Robin Harris commented, “The Introduction to Ethnodoxology course is on the cutting edge of ‘best practice’ for churches and missions. We are delighted to see the positive response from SBTS and look forward to partnering with them in the future to help people connect with God’s heart for worship and mission.”
[for a full-length press release with details of the course, click here]
June Prayer Letter
Posted by Robin on June 1st, 2008Hello! Click on the link to read our June Prayer Letter.