indian-orthodox.net
Although still needing more content and videos, as well as technical glitches that still need working out, the announcement for the website that will (hopefully) be a good source of video, audio and documents on the Faith of our Indian Orthodox Church was sent out.
The website will have accomplished it's goal if even one person takes pause and tries to learn more about the Faith before dismissing our Church based on the numerous negatives that are so easily seen.
All suggestions, ideas and help appreciated! The power of the Internet is amazing .. since the site has gone live, it's been visited 169 times and the map of the visitors is almost from every continent.
Amazing, and really an underutilized tool by our Church leaders. Our new Sabha website is a start, but truly understanding the reach of this medium and effectively using it to accomplish the vision and goals of the Church is still a long ways away.
Announcement notice below (with thoughts borrowed from earlier posts!)
----------------------
On Mon, Jun 30, 2008 at 1:56 AM, FOCUS Chicago wrote:
Although the site is still undergoing work and may have the occasional glitch, several of the recent Faith Seminars from the 2008 Chicago series have been uploaded to http://www.indian-orthodox.net. We are eagerly awaiting recordings of Faith Seminars from other cities as well as some former Leadership Camp materials.
If you have any materials (video, audio, presentations, articles, etc) that you believe will help others with their personal journey as they continue growing with Christ, please contact Joe Varghese (vargh3se-at-gmail-dot-com).
The intent and vision of this website can be best summarized by making reference to the amazing book by C.S. Lewis titled 'Mere Christianity'.
In his book, Lewis compared Christianity as a great hall, from which doors open into several different rooms. As Christians, it is our duty first and foremost to bring everyone into the hall. Lewis advises that when talking with those who are not in the hall to never attempt to bring them into the Faith by arguing "high points of theology", as the risk is that we may drive the individual further away from Christ through our disagreements and theological divisions.
But, once in the hall, Lewis explains that it is in the rooms and not the halls where there are fires, chairs and a meal. The hall is a place to wait, a place to pray and ask which door is the true one. While in the hall, we must obey the rules which are common to the whole house, but always continue to seek where to settle down i.e., which door to go through.
The website (http://www.indian-orthodox.net) is a humble attempt to begin collecting information on the Faith of Our Church for those in the hall, and help everyone with questions find the resources and help within the Church to get answers.
The answer to the question, "Why are you Orthodox?" may be different for different people, and there are no wrong answers. However, the answers should be backed with the conviction, comfort and belief that the doctrines of the Church are true and their is indeed holiness and truth.
Lewis concludes the metaphor with sound advice for all of us to heed -
"When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong, they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules that is common to the whole house"
May the Lord continue giving all of us the strength and wisdom to do His work on this earth.
In Christ,
--
+++ FOCUS Chicago
The website will have accomplished it's goal if even one person takes pause and tries to learn more about the Faith before dismissing our Church based on the numerous negatives that are so easily seen.
All suggestions, ideas and help appreciated! The power of the Internet is amazing .. since the site has gone live, it's been visited 169 times and the map of the visitors is almost from every continent.
Amazing, and really an underutilized tool by our Church leaders. Our new Sabha website is a start, but truly understanding the reach of this medium and effectively using it to accomplish the vision and goals of the Church is still a long ways away.
Announcement notice below (with thoughts borrowed from earlier posts!)
----------------------
On Mon, Jun 30, 2008 at 1:56 AM, FOCUS Chicago wrote:
Although the site is still undergoing work and may have the occasional glitch, several of the recent Faith Seminars from the 2008 Chicago series have been uploaded to http://www.indian-orthodox.net. We are eagerly awaiting recordings of Faith Seminars from other cities as well as some former Leadership Camp materials.
If you have any materials (video, audio, presentations, articles, etc) that you believe will help others with their personal journey as they continue growing with Christ, please contact Joe Varghese (vargh3se-at-gmail-dot-com).
The intent and vision of this website can be best summarized by making reference to the amazing book by C.S. Lewis titled 'Mere Christianity'.
In his book, Lewis compared Christianity as a great hall, from which doors open into several different rooms. As Christians, it is our duty first and foremost to bring everyone into the hall. Lewis advises that when talking with those who are not in the hall to never attempt to bring them into the Faith by arguing "high points of theology", as the risk is that we may drive the individual further away from Christ through our disagreements and theological divisions.
But, once in the hall, Lewis explains that it is in the rooms and not the halls where there are fires, chairs and a meal. The hall is a place to wait, a place to pray and ask which door is the true one. While in the hall, we must obey the rules which are common to the whole house, but always continue to seek where to settle down i.e., which door to go through.
The website (http://www.indian-orthodox.net) is a humble attempt to begin collecting information on the Faith of Our Church for those in the hall, and help everyone with questions find the resources and help within the Church to get answers.
The answer to the question, "Why are you Orthodox?" may be different for different people, and there are no wrong answers. However, the answers should be backed with the conviction, comfort and belief that the doctrines of the Church are true and their is indeed holiness and truth.
Lewis concludes the metaphor with sound advice for all of us to heed -
"When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong, they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules that is common to the whole house"
May the Lord continue giving all of us the strength and wisdom to do His work on this earth.
In Christ,
--
+++ FOCUS Chicago
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