It’s been 2 weeks since I attended The Justice Conference. Little did I know how 48 hours would change the way I view the world. The inaugural conference was held last year in Bend, OR and had 1000 attendees. This year, 4000 conference goers came to Portland. Next February, the conference heads East to Philadelphia, PA. Who knows how many lives will be touched then?
All of the speakers, all of the seminars, all of the exhibitors taught me or challenged me in some way. As I close out my blog “series” on what The Justice Conference meant to me, I’d like to share with you some quotes that I never want to forget.
“Our culture needs a new language. We need new music. Not something that promotes racism and bigotry.”
John M. Perkins, founder of JMP Foundation of Reconciliation and Development
“If we’re going to address trafficking in our country we have to address poverty, racism, and gender based violence. We need to pull our finger out of the dam and rebuild the dam.”
Rachel Lloyd, founder of GEMS: Girls Educational and Mentoring Services
“Masses live in poverty so a handful can own everything. We’ve created poverty because we haven’t learned how to share.”
Shane Claiborne, founding partner of The Simple Way
Regarding stepping back into the ministry spotlight after some called him an extremist, author and pastor Francis Chan had this revelation: “I’m done being quiet, ‘cause I’m right!”
(I can think of all kinds of reasons I’d like to use that quote.)
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| Art in the Exhibit Hall |
Referring to the overwhelming amount of causes that need help, Stephan Bauman, President of World Relief states, “Hold the long line, and choose ONE line, ONE cause, and go for it!”
I take Bauman’s advise to heart. My “experiment” is to learn compassion by volunteering every week in 2012. I’m excited for the time when I feel called to ONE cause and can exclaim, “Okay. I’m going for it!”
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| I bought this book to get ideas about how to make a “small difference” in someone’s life every day. |
I heard one quote that I will scribe on a Post-it note and stick on my alarm clock making it the first thing I see each morning. Shane Claiborne convicted me when he spoke of the question that so many of us ask: “God, why do You let all of this pain and suffering happen? Why don’t You do something about it?”
God’s reply: “I did do something. I made you.”
Do any of these quotes speak to you? And if not, do you have a favorite quote that motivates you every day?
Hi Andee,
My Name is Earl… from the Children's Book Bank. Just wanted to say I'm rooting for you to see your experiment through!
Anyway, I was reading a great kid's book- "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio- and it had these wonderful quotes:
"Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right using of strength…. He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own."- Henry Ward Beecher
"Try to be a little kinder than is necessary." J.M. Barrie
Oooh, Earl, I LOVE these quotes. I'm going to have to pick up that book.
Keep me in mind anytime you run across any more quotes. I know you keep them in that little notebook of yours 🙂