Christian Educators' Journal

Why <b>*cino</b> is necessary

by Jerry Vreeman

I had a dream the other night.

Sitting at my computer, I could see the entire world through the window of the monitor. Yet, I was no mere passive observer. As if holding the controller of some cosmic Play Station, with a push on the electronic mouse, and a few taps on the keyboard, I was talking directly with anyone in the world.

And, here's the amazing part. My eye and emotions were zoomed in on the Middle East; Iraq in particular. It was all there: The massive bunching of armies and weapons around the borders; the ponderous movements of ships and carriers; the incessant buzz of helicopters and jets; the huddled families and communities. I could smell the diesel, the oil refineries, and the endless chuck wagons feeding the soldiers. But I could taste only fear.

With one click on the mouse I was talking with Iraqi Christian leaders as they headed toward a palatial assembly hall. Soon we were joined by a political science professor from Western Canada, a Bible scholar from Israel, an artist from France, and dozens of professionals from all over Europe, the United States, Africa, and South America. We were all different. But we shared a common desire to find a way out of fear through faith.

It took hours. But out of that dialogue came a strategy. Someone knew some folks in the military. Another could contact the right politician. Still others would mobilize the churches and schools, the businesses and agencies. And within the dreamtime of this amazing fantasy, a proposal for peace was offered and accepted. War was averted. And the next morning, along with an international delegation of an amazing assortment of people from all walks of life, I would be personally moderating a respectful discussion between Saddam and George.

The dream ended when my little arrow clicked off the browser and I was no longer connected to *cino.

Now, what does that have to do with anything, you might ask?

Well, not having a Daniel to interpret, my own psychological and emotional probing yielded some follow-up thoughts:

• Wrestling with the vision and concept of *cino can stimulate my mind and heart to imagine an amazing century of progress if followers of Christ would truly let God move by his Spirit through their hearts and lives.

 

 

• Nations could change. Wars could be prevented. Justice could be established. Cultures could be freed from the bully fallen tyrants which presently enslave creative hearts, minds, and institutions of Christ followers.

 

 

• In some distant decade, a *cino network of associates and culture builders representing so many cultures and professions around the globe could exist that it would make today's Al Qaeda look paltry.

 

 

• If the seed vision planted by the founders of *cino takes root and grows, local churches in every nation could be expressing themselves in every area of their cultures through the active participation of their members in radical Christian lifestyles and creativity.

 

 

• Children, young people, singles, and families of multiple races and geographies could be in daily dialogue and relationship learning from one another, challenging the status quo, and inciting each other to greater works of kindness and peace throughout the world.

I could go on and on, but here?s the point.

The WORLD needs *cino and what it represents.

Do you believe that? I do!

Can you imagine how different the world and the geopolitical landscape might be if there were actually a worldwide community of believers united, learning, and serving together to actively redeem all of culture? I think about that and start dreaming again!

What if together we could work through existing institutions to bring about redemptive change? What if we could truly find international but communal ways as Christians to help guide our thoughts and ideas to appropriate action? Can you imagine how it would empower the Church and Christian organizations in many cultures if we would truly respect the unique gifts and vocations of individuals and seek to engage their gifts in appropriate ways?

Okay, maybe it?s just a dream?a kind of unreachable fantasy. But culture formation begins with that kind of imagination. The vision of *cino is much bigger than a couple of people struggling to keep a dream alive and a web site in operation. I believe it represents a picture of God?s preferred future for his Church and Kingdom.