By: Ryan Thorson on March 13, 2025
“I have a dream that one day my children will be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The topic of race has always been something that I’ve been aware of for as long as I can remember. Even though I have…
By: Debbie Owen on March 13, 2025
What I knew about racism prior to this week’s assignment can be illustrated by this story: I was attending a Renovare week-long residency a few years ago. One of our leaders for the week was an Anglican priest with a DMin. He is a deeply thoughtful man with a great sense of humor; he’s a…
By: Graham English on March 13, 2025
What I Believe About Racism and Why Residing in a small town in north-central Alberta, a bedroom community of Edmonton, I am part of a population of approximately 22,000 people, among whom 820 are identified as visible minorities. Despite my upbringing in South Africa, where I was classified as a “coloured” person, I am not…
By: Kari on March 13, 2025
Before reading The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America, I understood “race” as categorizing specific features held by a group of people. These features can be physical signs such as skin color, body shape, or specific cultural behaviors. Growing up, I was taught that races came about at the Tower of Babel…
By: Adam Cheney on March 12, 2025
I grew up in a middle-class white home with the understanding that we are all to be colorblind. I understood that we shouldn’t see race, color, or ethnicity but that we should treat all people the same. Since my childhood, I have adopted three black, African children. They are African, not African American, or Black…
By: Shela Sullivan on March 11, 2025
Previous knowledge In Malaysia, the concept of reverse racism is often discussed in the context of the country’s affirmative action policies, particularly the New Economic Policy (NEP) introduced in 1971. The NEP aimed to address economic disparities among ethnic groups by providing affirmative action for the majority Malay population, who were historically economically disadvantaged compared…
By: Jennifer Eckert on March 11, 2025
I am a diamond. At least, that is what my high school history teacher, Mrs. Clara Luper, called me and all her students. We were HER diamonds, and our gender, race, or ethnicity was of no importance. I am Mrs. Luper’s diamond, and just like a natural gemstone, I was formed under intense pressure for…
By: Jeff Styer on March 10, 2025
Previous Knowledge Race is a topic that I am passionate about, but the reality is that race along with ethnicity are terms that I do not like. Today most people understand that race is a concept developed to differentiate people based on skin color and other physical features. For years due to concepts such as…
By: Joel Zantingh on March 10, 2025
Serving in stated Christian leadership for more than thirty years has brought with it the relentless growth curve in seeking to be more like Jesus and inviting others to do the same, coupled with the brutal reality that my ego is really tough to transcend. Despite years of seeking to live with self-awareness about my…
By: Noel Liemam on March 8, 2025
Introduction “As I ordered my steak, I wanted to be medium RARE – for its taste, which is my desired taste. Though often costs me, I enjoyed it. Then, moved on to next agenda with filled stomach. Apologies! I got carried away.” But to be authentic to the definition of leadership, which is to influence…
By: Daren Jaime on March 7, 2025
My first job as a youth landed me at an office with my older sister who had the crazy notion that my teenage brother needed something to do. As a result, she got me a volunteer job at her place of employment. She worked on 41st Street and Park Ave in New York City, in…
By: Elysse Burns on March 7, 2025
I still remember my first week in North Africa. I sat in a small room, staring at my two duffel bags—the only things that held my entire life—and felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. I don’t think I have the capacity to truly love the people here, I thought. Each time I’ve wrestled…
By: Chad Warren on March 6, 2025
Ted Lasso once said, “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”[1] The most effective leadership isn’t about avoiding problems or playing it safe—it’s about embracing challenges while prioritizing relationships, emotional maturity, and cultivating joy. In Rare Leadership[2],…
By: Kari on March 6, 2025
We had just finished a lovely evening celebrating a friend’s birthday at the only chain restaurant in my country, PAUL. This bakery-restaurant combination attracts many foreigners and affluent citizens. Due to the clientele, it also draws beggars hoping for charity or food. As we stepped outside, I noticed the beggar children just as they noticed…
By: Ryan Thorson on March 6, 2025
What does it take to be a RARE leader? What sort of teams and processes need to be cultivated in order to experience the joy and grace of leading together with others, rather than giving in to the distress and dis-ease of our leadership-deficient world? In RARE Leadership, Dr. Wilder and Dr. Warner provide a…
By: Graham English on March 6, 2025
In a post-pandemic survey done in 2022 by the Barna group, they reported alarming statistics on the decline of pastoral health in the US. The effect of the pandemic continued to ripple through the ranks of pastors, as it has through many professions. The research does not paint a promising picture. They write, “The number…
By: Debbie Owen on March 6, 2025
It’s clear there’s a “control factor” at play. Isn’t that often the case in a church? You’re on staff, and they pay you for your expertise. But so often, there’s at least one volunteer who is quite sure they know just as much as you do. They manage to get onto the committee with which…
By: Shela Sullivan on March 5, 2025
Introduction: In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective leadership is crucial for fostering trust, joy, and engagement among team members. The book RARE Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits for Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead by Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder outlines four habits that can transform leadership practices.[1] This essay explores these…
By: Adam Cheney on March 4, 2025
For years I have prayed about increasing my joy. I have understood for a while that joy is certainly more than happiness but that it is a deep contentment that we might find in the Lord. During times of suffering, joy can be hard to find. Yet it is a choice we can make. When…
By: Glyn Barrett on March 4, 2025
In RARE Leadership,[i] Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder provide a framework for leaders to build emotional resilience and thriving teams. By integrating principles from neuroscience and theology to offer strategies that enhance leadership effectiveness, RARE Leadership emphasises that emotionally mature leaders cultivate trust and engagement, creating environments where individuals and organisations flourish. Warner and Wilder…
