"Heaven" is believed to be a place where people of different ethnic groups and various cultural backgrounds dwell in complete unity. From the Biblical account it is described as a place where justice and freedom reigns. Full of perfect love, joy and peace. So in heaven there is no racism, sexism, ageism, and all those other -isms. There is no oppression at all. No sickness and no death. People live in harmony with the environment. There is education equality. There is no darkness at all.
It may seem crazy to believe that such a concept can actually exist but that's what the students at UCSB have been calling forth. This is a call towards that same cause of bringing heaven down to earth. For finals week application skip to the last section: "Freedom by Expression." (Everyone is welcome to support and participate from whatever location
***********************BACKGROUND******************************
Hello UCSB, SB, California, USA, World, Earth, I would like to call your attention to a GROUND-BREAKING phenomenon that took off last year and is picking up speed even as the school year is coming to an end. Well what is it?? Well, can't U C it?? It's a REVOLUTION! STUDENT-LED ACTIVISM. Can't you hear the chants?? Haven't you read the news? "'This is The End' comes to UCSB" "Black Students at UCSB demand Institutional Changes" "Dreaming of Freedom: Prisons, Politics, and Black Liberation," "RAISE YOUR VOICE! Demand change at the UC!" Womyn of Resilience: Remembering our Ancestors. Reclaiming the Margins. Redefining Progress." "Campus Fasting Event Highlights Diverse Social Justice Movements" "Don't make me choose. There's too much to loose!" and the latest "IT'S TIME for an institutional Change." There have been tons of events by various student groups promoting awareness of real identity, celebrating cultural diversity, calling for inclusivity and advocating for freedom, equality and solidarity.
Sounds like a NEW Thing is SPRINGing forth right? Well, yeah but look again... it's actually an AWAKENING, a REVIVAL, a RENEWAL...
*1968 was declared "A Global Year of Student- Driven Change" Check it out: http://www.blackstudies.ucsb.edu/1968/el_gaucho_1968.html
"Black Power at UCSB: The Future has a Past" -> At the beginning of Spring quarter BSU hosted a talk with Dalton Nezey, a participant in the UCSB 1968 North Hall Takeover. To "get a first hand account of how the 1968 Black Student Takeover of North Hall was organized and its relevance to the current climate of UCSB and our current organizing efforts for Freedom, Equality, and Dignity."
*California has birthed many movements such as: The Black Panthers, The Hippie movement,... and Christian movements such as: The Azusa Street Revival, Kathryn Kulman's healing ministry, The Jesus movement, The Catholic Renewal etc... In the 1970's Kathryn Kulman prophesied that one day a GREAT AWAKENING would come out of Santa Barbara and would spread to the whole world. In 2011 numerous people shared dreams and visions about a near revival coming to Santa Barbara. So... where am I going with all this??? IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION.
******************IT'S TIME FOR AN INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE****************
Most of the successful social movements are those that took a comprehensive approach: political action, social action as well as spiritual action. If the roots of the issues (spiritual aspects) are ignored the problem will keep popping up, lasting change will not result.
So far social and political action has been taken. The BSU demands team just had their press conference last week stating the progress of their demands. Now I'd like to call for unity in the spiritual action to be taken. So what are the spiritual weapons to use? If you look back at how our ancestors approached solving a problem that the community faced some of the things they did include: praying to their Creator and singing and dancing. They recognized spiritual roots of problems and spiritual solutions in uprooting those roots. Music and the arts is not just an expression of freedom but also a means through which freedom is achieved and spread. (I know that's not a popular perspective especially in the West but remember if we want to see true and lasting change we must not ignore the different approaches to the cause. We MUST have a HOLISTIC view of the problem and the solutions.)
-----------A CALL FOR THE CHURCH TO ARISE AND UNITE-------------
I know it's finals week but that's a perfect time to finalize the revolution that was started on this campus. It's time to breakthrough! Anyone from whatever background can participate and contribute to these events. However I'd especially want to stress out this call to the CHRISTIANS on this campus. Unity has been forming on this campus... unity towards the cause that is at the very heart of God. The cause that Jesus Christ lived for, died for, rose for and commissioned us to partner with Him in.
We believe that there is POWER in the name of Jesus to break EVERY chain. So I want to encourage us, because of the name of Jesus, to unite and contend for the unleashing of His stronghold-breaking power in our lives and on our campus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FREEDOM BY EXPRESSION~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.)"SING OUT YOUR FREEDOM"
Location: Storke plaza and the Arbor. Description: Sing songs of worship and praise to God.
♫ Lift Every Voice and sing till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of liberty ♫ - Black National Anthem.
♫ Won't you help to sing These songs of freedom? 'Cause all I ever have: Redemption songs, Redemption songs. ♫ -Bob Marley.
2.) "DANCE UPON INJUSTICE"
-Dance performances and group dances (Shuffling to "We are family" at the Arbor)
♫ Open up the doors and let the music play. Let the streets resound with singing. With songs that bring your hope. And the songs that bring your joy. Dancers who dance upon injustice ♫ - Sonic Flood.
3.) Art Peace - Display your art promoting peace, love and unity and also create your own. Paint and paper will be provided. At the Arbor.
4.) "PRAYER WALKS" or "SHARE AND PRAYER"
-Lead a prayer walk around your dorm, around a building on campus or around a block on IV. Can be in silence or with words: prayers, shouts, songs Or just meet up, share the issues you want to pray about then pray together.
“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”- Gandhi.
"But seek the welfare (peace & prosperity/shalom) of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7)
5.) "SOLIDARITY MARCH / PEACE WALK"
We're gonna walk holding hands from Stroke Plaza to DP Thursday 10pm.
“When we look at modern man, we have to face the fact...that modern man suffers from a kind of poverty of the spirit, which stands in glaring contrast to his scientific and technological abundance; We've learned to fly the air like birds, we've learned to swim the seas like fish, and yet we haven't learned to walk the Earth as brothers and sisters...” - Martin Luther King Jr.
♫ Let us march on till VICTORY IS WON! ♫ - The Black National Anthem.
(Let me know if you want to perform a song, dance, lead a prayer walk or display your art and the dates and times of your availability. This is open to everyone worldwide to stand in solidarity in prayer, making music and singing for heaven to come down to earth. You can use this page to also share prayers, quotes and the like during this week. Cool, thanks!)
*First event: Today at 5.30pm: Debrief of the vision for this week, Q & A, Free Blue Books and Scantrons and Cookies. Then at 6pm Prayer for IV hosted by IV Church at the prayer shed on 6686 DP (behind the Jesus burgers house)
*Stay tuned for the update of the events that are going to happen. And if you can't make it to any of those events you can still stand in solidarity with us from whatever location. Say a prayer. Sing out your freedom song. Dance for justice. Alone or involve your friends
_________________________________________________________
So the summary of the previous description is: It's Time for REVIVAL at UCSB! YAY! =)
The Kingdom of Heaven spreads through Love. Love will change the atmosphere at this school. So this is just a call for us, the body of Christ, to love each other more :) And also for us to agree with God's will to bring revival here and now, through prayer and worship. So as we're already planning to meet up and hang out with people before we all leave pray together for each other and also for this school.
Events:
*There's Shekinah this Wednesday night in the prayer shed. A time of worship and prayer.
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