Soul Search: Race, religion and education in West Dallas
by Brian Thevenot The Texas Tribune 11-24-2009
More than 100 small churches dot the skinny, pockmarked streets of West Dallas. Most limp along with tiny congregations, preachers who don't live here, and sanctuaries rotting alongside the ramshackle housing that surrounds them. For a quarter century, Rev. Rayford Butler has watched the slow collapse of his church community, in this neighborhood he calls "the stepchild of Dallas." His own church, Greater Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist, a moderately sized brick building, doesn't seem particularly noteworthy from the street. Until you come to understand its one of the few healthy churches left here, and see the tiny church down the block, its wooden exterior rotting, its roof sagging, its front door chained. »read more
Soul Search, Part One
by Brian Thevenot The Texas Tribune 11-23-2009
After four days of the Justice Revival, and more than a year of wrangling city pastors into an unprecedented multi-racial coalition, Rev. Jim Wallis finally took the stage at Dallas Market Hall. He aimed to ignite a movement. All great achievements in social justice — abolition, women's suffrage, civil rights — have come through church leadership, he would tell them. "And we are being so bold as to say it can happen again — even here in Dallas." »read more
In Dallas, Justice Revival calls churches to unify and serve
by Kaitlin Chapman Associated Baptist Press 11-17-2009
In the Dallas area, churches are participating in a new kind of revival -- one that takes notice of the 5,800 homeless people and the 89 percent of Dallas high school seniors who are not college- or career-ready when they graduate. And they are setting aside differences to follow God’s command to help the least of these. The Justice Revival is a faith-based event attempting to unite Christians across denominational lines, mobilizing churches to improve public schools and end chronic homelessness by creating permanent supportive housing. »read more
Weekend volunteers target Oak Cliff school, garden
by Roy Appleton The Dallas Morning News Oak Cliff blog 11-16-2009
Here's an uplifting story about volunteers at Barbara Jordan Elementary School in Oak Cliff school and across the city on Saturday. All part of Justice Revival Dallas, a gathering last week that focused on homelessness, education and the common good. Speaking of good work, Barbara Barbee, president of Friends of Oak Cliff Parks, tells us that about 65 volunteers cleaned up planting beds Saturday morning at Kiest Park. »read more
Volunteers put Justice Revival spirit to work in projects across Dallas
by David Flick The Dallas Morning News 11-15-2009
Classes were out Saturday, but Barbara Jordan Elementary School was humming with activity. About 50 parents, students, neighborhood leaders and church volunteers spent the chilly autumn morning laying sod, planting bushes and preparing a community garden. The effort Saturday was one of 10 projects across Dallas that wrapped up Justice Revival. »read more
Churches unite to make a difference in Dallas
by GARY REAVES WFAA Dallas ABC 11-13-2009
The question "What would Jesus do?" is more than a slogan on a wrist band. Now, hundreds of Dallas-area churches have an answer. From neighborhoods all over the city, they are coming together to solve problems in needy schools and neighborhoods. The Pinkston High School band is in the midst of a revival, and so is the school itself. But the deteriorating paint in the band room shows it could use some help. That help is about to arrive, from churches as diverse as Sheron Patterson's Methodist congregation in Oak Cliff, and Ron Scates' Highland Park Presbyterian. »read more
Justice Revival calls churches to unify and serve
by Kaitlin Chapman The Baptist Standard 11-12-2009
Dallas-area churches are taking notice of the 5,800 homeless people and the 89 percent of Dallas high school seniors who are not college- or career-ready when they graduate. And they are setting aside differences to follow God’s command to help the least of these. The Justice Revival is a faith-based event attempting to unite Christians across denominational lines, mobilizing churches to improve public schools and end chronic homelessness by creating permanent supportive housing. »read more
A Call for a Justice Revival from Dallas Market Hall Keeps the Faith Despite Low Turnout
by Kimberly Thorpe Dallas Observer blog 11-11-2009
It's not an uncommon scene: A Christian pop band plugs in and coos about Jesus's love to the faithful flock, which sways with arms raised to the heavens. Last night, that scene replayed itself in Dallas as Sojourners, the Washington D.C.-based social ministry, kicked off its Justice Revival event. The three-day gathering is the baby of Rev. Jim Wallis, a New York Times bestselling author, who started Sojourners and who, after publishing The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith & Politics in a Post-Religious Right America last year, Wallis started the Justice Revival "movement." »read more
Justice Revival comes to Dallas
by SAM HODGES The Dallas Morning News religion blog 11-10-2009
Sojourners, the Washington, D.C.-based social ministry, put on its first Justice Revival last year in Columbus, Ohio. Dallas got the nod for the second, and planning has been underway for more than a year. About 1,000 churches and ministries have offered at least some support, and some 200 are actively involved. The social justice focus is on supporting public schools and reducing homelessness. »read more
Justice Revival starting tonight aims to unite Dallas-area churches, community
by SAM HODGES The Dallas Morning News 11-09-2009
The Justice Revival that begins tonight in Dallas might be thought of as a thousand points of light shining in the same direction. That's the hope anyway as large numbers of Christians gather across the usual dividing lines of race, denomination, theology and politics to focus attention on supporting public education and reducing homelessness. »read more
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert Will Elevate Your Thinking, But He'll Do So Rather Quickly
by Robert Wilonsky Dallas Observer 11-06-2009
A Friend of Unfair Park forwarded along the link to this shindig scheduled for next week at the Fair Park Music Hall: Elevate Dallas, a "leadership event" that, from the looks of this promotional video, is piggybacking on the Sojourners-sponsored Justice Revival also on the calendar next week at Dallas Market Hall. At the Justice Revival, Mayor Tom Leppert will join the likes of Jim Wallis, Rev. Zan Holmes and others in calling for "at least 25 congregations [to] establish solid, lasting partnerships with their neighborhood schools," and the creation of "700 additional units of permanent supportive housing by 2014," per the city of Dallas's homeless-assistance wish list. »read more
Another Great Awakening?
by Ken Camp The Baptist Standard 11-05-2009
Other observers assert a Fourth Great Awakening occurred in the mid-20th century, beginning with the youth revival movement after World War II and continuing through the rise of the Jesus Movement and charismatic renewal. Count evangelical social activist Jim Wallis among that group. And he believes the time is ripe for another socially transforming spiritual movement in the United States. “I regard the black church’s leadership of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s as another ‘great awakening’ of faith that changed politics,” he writes... »read more
Biblical principles should guide Christian involvement in social change
by Ken Camp The Baptist Standard 11-05-2009
Evangelical progressive activist Jim Wallis believes the United States is ripe for another socially transforming spiritual awakening. But as Christians become energized to change the world, they need to avoid the temptation to politicize the gospel, he warns. In The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith & Politics in a Post-Religious Right America, Wallis outlines seven guiding principles for Christians as they seek to bring about societal change... »read more
The Good News The Dallas Examiner 11-02-2009
the GOOD NEWS Justice Revival Hosted by Sojourners and Jim Walls, Justice Revival will be held from Nov. 10 through Nov. 12. The purpose of the revival is to unite Dallas churches for a spiritual revival that will spark social change throughout the city. The initiative will target a partnership with 25 schools. It also seeks to help provide 700 homes for the homeless. Dr. Zan Holmes will lead the Call to Conversation on Tuesday, with special guest Mayor Tom Leppert and musical praise by Jaci Velasquez and Salvador. Pastor Sam Rodriguez will lead the Call to Community on Wednesday, with musical praise by Fred Hammond. And Pastor Jim Wallis will lead the Call to Justice on Thursday, with musical praise by Israel Houghton and New Breed. To register, visit www.justicerevival.org. »read more
impulso a educación
by Mark Gonzalez Aldiatx.com 10-17-2009
En las últimas décadas la población latina ha aumentado drásticamente en los Estados Unidos. No cabe duda que la falta de oportunidades de trabajo, educación, seguridad y la inestabilidad económica de Latinoamérica fueron los precursores a este repentino crecimiento. »read more
Revival! Sojourners event targets justice issues
by Robin Russell The United Methodist Reporter 10-16-2009
The Rev. Jim Wallis, founder and president of Sojourners, said Dallas clergy are coming together for two reasons: to help the chronically homeless and to improve public education. In Dallas, for instance, there are more than 6,000 homeless persons on the streets, and 90 percent of high school students in the Dallas Independent School District are not college ready. »read more
Bishop: Put Catholic faith into Action with Justice Revival
by David Seneno The Texas Catholic 10-16-2009
Bishop Kevin J. Farrell has called on Catholics in the Diocese of Dallas to attend a three-day ?Justice Revival? and put their ?faith into action? to impact several chronic social and educational issues that affect everyday lives. The Justice Revival, a free event scheduled for Nov. 10-12 at Dallas Market Hall, is an ecumenical effort that seeks to unite Christians across social, economic, and denominational lines to improve public education and to support permanent housing for some of the nearly 6,000 homeless in Dallas. »read more
March and festival for Cedar Crest is prelim event to Justice Revival
by SAM HODGES The Dallas Morning News religion blog 10-12-2009
The press release below offers info on a fast-approaching event that's preliminary to the Justice Revival: A "Unity in the Community" festival and march will show support for the Cedar Crest neighborhood of South Dallas. Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and Dallas Pastor Micah B. Phillips will be part of the festivities, and more than 100 others are expected to participate. »read more
Justice Revival: Will it bring the Churches Together? Elite News 10-09-2009
At a press conference on Tuesday, October 6th, at East Gate Christian Church, Christian leaders representing over 1,000 churches and over 1 million Christians in the Greater Dallas area announced a 3-day Justice Revival where people will be challenged to put their faith into action by creating church-school partnerships and advocating for the chronically homeless. »read more
Point Person: Our Q&A with Jim Wallis
by William McKenzie The Dallas Morning News 10-09-2009
I got excited about Justice Revival after reading more about the social movements led by William Wilberforce and other religious leaders and how they shaped their times. Social movements are a way to engage the issues of justice without engaging in partisan politics. And they have not succeeded without the support of religious folk. Charles Finney used altar calls to sign people up for the anti-slavery campaign. »read more
Justice Revival's Dallas effort could affect many The Dallas Morning News 10-09-2009
On Tuesday, the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners Fellowship in Washington and Dallas religious leaders announced plans for a November "revival." This isn't an altar call affair, the kind with a tent in a park. Rather, the effort will be sustained over time by people of faith who want to deal with poverty in Dallas without partisan divides sidetracking them. »read more
Dr. Frederick Haynes, Rev. Jim Wallis, and Other Dallas Ministers Join Forces with "Justice Revival" to Fight Social Problems Black Christian News 10-07-2009
Clergy by the dozens, ranging from Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas to the Rev. Frederick Haynes of South Dallas' Friendship-West Baptist Church, gathered Tuesday to support a fast-approaching ecumenical event called Justice Revival. "We've never come together like this," said the Rev. Zan Holmes, pastor emeritus of St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church and an elder statesman of the Dallas church scene. "This is historic." »read more
Faith Group Will Tackle Education, Homelessness
by Bill Zeeble KERA.org 10-06-2009
More than a thousand Dallas-area church leaders will convene for a revival next month when they'll map out plans to improve troubled schools. They'll also tackle homelessness by teaming up churches and the government. The November event will be free, and was sparked by Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners, a faith group that's helped organize similar gatherings in other cities. »read more
Dallas ministers joining forces with Justice Revival to fight social problems
by SAM HODGES The Dallas Morning News 10-06-2009
Justice Revival is the idea of Sojourners, a Washington, D.C., ministry with a social justice focus. The first such event occurred last year in Columbus, Ohio. "It seemed like God was moving us to do it in Dallas," said the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder and president of Sojourners, which publishes a magazine by that name. "If this can happen in Dallas, it can send a signal to the country about what is possible for us all." »read more
Churches and schools: Why they can mix
by William McKenzie The Dallas Morning News religion blog 10-06-2009
We had an editorial board meeting yesterday with Jim Wallis of Sojourners Fellowship and representatives from Justice Revival, which is hosting a news conference today in Dallas to announce a November "revival" that its supporters want to deal with poverty issues without getting sidetracked by partisan divides. »read more
Dallas' Justice Revival to partner churches with their neighborhoods
by Sheron Patterson The Dallas Morning News 10-01-2009
The Justice Revival is an event: three days of worship featuring artists such as Fred Hammond, Israel Houghton and Jaci Velasquez, and speakers such as Jim Wallis, the evangelist who founded Sojourners and who conceived of the Justice Revival. The event – which is free – will happen in November. »read more
Wallis, Holmes, Rodriguez speaking at Dallas Justice Revival
by SAM HODGES The Dallas Morning News religion blog 9-02-2009
Sojourners, the Washington D.C.-based magazine and ministry that weds evangelicalism and social action, is sponsoring a Justice Revival in Dallas. The event will be Nov. 10-12, at Dallas Market Hall. The just-announced main speakers are Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners and author of such best-selling books as "God's Politics"; the Rev. Zan Holmes, longtime United Methodist pastor and community activist in Dallas; and the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. »read more
