Together
Strong Network
A
comprehensive vision for what is now called Oxford Graduate
School was articulated in 1974. As the ageing process takes
hold, the frailty and vulnerability of the human condition has
become more obvious. There is not enough time, energy, or
resources for a few to accomplish the vision. During the past
two decades, the burden has been carried by a few committed
individuals. The time has come for others to assist with the
load. It is for this reason that the OXFORD "TOGETHER/STRONG"
NETWORK was established in 1992. Individuals are asked to join
the Chancellor in seeking for strength and guidance in
relationship to the present and future spiritual mission of the
Graduate School. Oxford must not only make a spiritual impact on
the students God sends to the school, but on the world to which
graduates are sent. Will you be a part of this network?
Early Christians, when they witnessed the struggle or suffering
of colleagues, acted to express their common feelings with
"their fellows." This is precisely why the NETWORK was
established. We must build a stronger relationship with godly
people who will assist with spiritual accountability to the
spiritual vision and will encourage Oxford leadership to
accomplish the achievable things in the near future. The early
believers seemed to have an understanding of mutual and parallel
susceptibility to evil conditions that prevailed. As early
Christians expressed their concern for one another, they created
the first together-strong network. This is what Oxford needs
today.
The ancient Greeks, in whose language the New Testament was
written, discovered that if a person really cared about the
circumstances of his fellow, he might enter vicariously into
that person's experience. They called this sympathos, meaning
"with suffering," from which comes the English word "sympathy."
By means of sympathy one enters into the minds and hearts of
those who struggle or suffer, to share their burdens. The old Latins, in whose language most of the history of the early
church was written, discovered that when sympathy was sincere, a
miracle resulted among the supported. They called it confortis,
meaning "together strong." and from it comes the present word,
"comfort" This is the basis for the name: OXFORD
"Together-Strong" NETWORK.
If the Christian community is to be strong and growing it must
have spiritual leadership that has been nurtured and supported
along the way. Those who have attained positions of
responsibility and leadership in the Christian movement will
respond in unison that they could not make it without the
support of friends. It is this kind of support group that the
"Together-Strong" Network could become for the Oxford family.
These verses by an unknown author sums up the essence of what is
desired for the NETWORK:
My greatest joy on earth shall be,
To find at the turning of every road,
The strong hand of a comrade kind,
To help me onward with my load.
But since I have no gold to give,
And only love can make amends,
My daily prayer in life shall be,
"God make me worthy of my friends."
An
often heard statement about mothers and wives, "give her the
roses while she lives," speaks volumes. Most individuals surely
try to do this in order to make the lives of parents and spouses
as comfortable and as pleasant as possible. Let's look at the
other side of that coin. Why wait until someone has died to
express concern and support? Why not network support for one
another in life? The "Together-Strong" Network is to support and
strengthen the living without neglecting surviving family
members. Jesus Himself was an emotional man. He needed others
around Him for encouragement and strength. One lonely statement
in the New Testament jumps out when Jesus said to some of His
closest followers, "Could you not watch with me one hour?" Can a
few minutes
The Oxford "Together-Strong" Network seeks a group of committed
Christians who will agree to pray regularly for the
Administration, Regents, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Current
Students and each other. In addition to the prayers "where your
are" from time to time "gatherings" will be scheduled on campus
to strengthen the network. Chapel services are scheduled each
Wednesday during Core sessions at noon, followed by a fellowship
meal at the Gathering Place on campus. The Together/Strong
Network includes special ministry through Oxford’s WIDOW WATCH
AND WOMEN ALONE PROJECT. An annual Bible reading marathon to
read the New Testament aloud in the Chapel is scheduled each
November in observance of American Education Week and National
Bible Society Week. At times special Chapel Evensong services
are scheduled. In addition, there is an annual "gathering" each
summer at the meeting of the Oxford CONGREGATION.
The concept of "communion" comes from the New Testament word,
koinonia. The early followers of Jesus were bound into a new
human fraternity, later called the church. This was a new kind
of community in which there was interpretation of personality
without loss of individuality. The community life was exhibited
and depicted by the sharing of one loaf and of one cup, emblems
of one Body. In addition to prayer and interaction, the network
at gatherings will share a common loaf and a common cup through
a 15th Century method of Communion called Intinction.
Communicants gather as the Priesthood of Believers and serve
themselves by breaking from the common loaf and dipping into the
common cup at the Lord's Table.
About AD 125 the Greek scholar, Aristides, explaining the
effectiveness of Christians, said, "If any righteous man among
they Christian passes from the world, they rejoice and offer
thanks to God and they escort his body with songs and
thanksgiving as if he were setting out from one place to another
nearby." Should this be the spirit of the Christian community
today? Each one will pass by way of the grave unless Christ
returns prior to death. Will each life be so structured and
linked to the lives of others that it not only made a difference
in the way life was lived, but caused one's presence to be
missed by the community? Offering sympathy and comfort to
survivors of family and friends is an effective ministry, but
would it not be better if the Christian community provided
colleagues and friends strength for the journey and courage for
each day?
Perhaps it is time to move full circle and arrive back to a New
Testament model of the community. Believers need to gather
together in Christ to strengthen and support one another. Events
cause one to assume that neither the church or the family is
adequately nourishing and equipping believers to support each
other. Believers need to stand together, learn from one another,
and profit from the strength and spiritual growth of others. The
moral influence of religious leaders is at a low ebb. The whole
world knows about the private sins of popular preachers and more
than they want to know about the private lives and public sins
of public leaders who profess to be Christian. What can be done
to restore the integrity of spiritual leadership? How can we
take back the moral high ground and equip Christians to care for
each other and pray for Christian leaders.
In addition to your present involvement in your local church,
will you be a part of this network? Email us at
[oxnet@oxnet.com] or Call
1-800-933-6188 or FAX 423-775-6599. Ask to be enrolled in the
Together/Storng Network.. God bless!
A
special gift: you may download a small book by Chancellor Hollis
L. Green, entitled: Stand In The Gap and Pray.
In addition you may donate to the work of Oxford Graduate School
through.
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