World News Briefs

Missions-Catalyst-no-tagline_largeIn This Issue: Challenging our assumptions

African Men

Greetings!

Have you ever observed someone and wondered why they act that way? Or assumed that someone was part of a certain group because of the way they behave? I find it refreshing when my own assumptions are challenged, and sometimes it helps me laugh at myself. The video How Do You Distinguish Americans? provided such an opportunity. See also African Men, Hollywood Stereotypes, in which some young Africans were able to laugh at themselves, too.

The young, who haven’t yet learned how they are “supposed” to behave, are sometimes more ready, willing vessels for God because of it. For example, read a New York Times piece about the Child Preachers of Brazil.

Ramadan begins this evening. I find it a great time to face my stereotypes head on and devoting time to learning about and praying for the Muslim world. The reading and viewing list I hope to tackle this Ramadan will take me into the world of extremists. See a few links from my collection below, as well as another piece we shared this time last year, a report from St. Francis Magazine on Ramadan’s effects on spiritual openness.

This Saturday, June 20, is World Refugee Day. This year’s theme is “Get to Know a Refugee.” Download the UNHCR’s toolkit on this topic.

Getting to know the “other” (and myself),

Pat

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