Religious Education for Effective Ministry： Confronting Leadership Challenges in One Beloved Community

Rev. Smith has been appointed to be the pastor of First United Methodist Church （FUMC）. With the appointment, it comes a specific instruction that the church must be ＂turned around,＂ and it was Rev. Smith＇s responsibility to make it happen. FUMC has been in decline for many years under the leadership of several pastors. Rev. Smith is black and the congregation is predominately Caucasian and elderly, with longtime members who have stayed on because ＂this is their church.＂ Rev. Smith comes to the church bringing her experience, energy, and vision. This appointment is a cross-racial cross-cultural appointment, which is part of her denomination＇s mandate for the future, as it places pastors that reflect the diversity of the surrounding community in churches that do not currently look like the community around them. Currently FUMC does not interact with the community--it does ministry ＂to＂ the community but not ＂with it.＂ Therefore, from the beginning, Rev. Smith knew that her job would not be easy. She accepted the appointment believing that a ＂new wind＂ must blow through the church bringing forth spiritual revival. She now faces a crucial issue in the church, which she feels is in a make or break situation. First United Methodist is located in an urban environment. FUMC has been in this city for 133 years but has been at this site for 83 years. Originally, the neighborhood consisted of predominately white, blue-collar workers, but has since transitioned into a neighborhood community of mostly African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and Hispanics. When the church was fwst built in this neighborhood and for many years after that, both consisted of white blue-collar workers. As the neighborhood began to change, no efforts were made to develop new programs or a more inclusive worship to include the growing diversity. The lines are drawn; Rev. Smith knows it but she is determined to turn First Church United around. As she has said before in conversations with the church, ＂God called me into ministry and the Bishop sent me here. No one is going to stop me from serving God and the church.＂ For a brief moment, she felt terribly alone, but then she remembered that she did have some support at FUMC. Rev. Smith took a deep breath, ＂I am going back to the drawing board. There is much work yet to be done, and I will not give up. But what is the next step？＂ This paper is based on a case scenario for a religious education program and as a response to Cooling of the ＂Spirits＂ by Marjorie Nunes of the Summerfield United Methodist Church Bridgeport, Connecticut. The author of this response paper analyzing the problems from the case study provides suggestions for a Religious Education ministry as a program for the church, and data on effective church growth and leadership.1

Inaccuracy of Self-reported Low Sodium Diet among Chinese: Findings from Baseline Survey for Shandong & Ministry of Health Action on Salt and Hypertension(SMASH) Project

This study was aimed to evaluate the agreement between the self-reported sodium intake level and 24-h urine sodium excretion level in Chinese. The 24-h urine collection was conducted among 2112 adults aged 18-69 years randomly selected in Shandong Province, China. The subjects were asked whether their sodium intake was low, moderate, or high. The weighted kappa statistics was calculated to assess the agreement between 24-h urine sodium excretion level and self-reported sodium intake level. One third of the subjects reported low sodium intake level. About 70% of the subjects had mean 24-h sodium excretion 〉9 g/d, but reported low or moderate sodium intake.

The Investigation of Jordanian Education Ministry Employees’ Attitude toward the Using of Cloud ERP

ERP systems have become an optimal solution for companies to perform their works with maximum advantages of Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP). Moreover, even though the cloud computing has many obstacles which need to be solved, but the enterprises always embrace the cloud. Many enterprises tend to adopt the cloud computing paradigm in order to get its leverage in successful and benefits. With the development of cloud computing technology, there is a growing orientation to move the ERP from inside boundaries of organizations into the cloud computing technologies. In addition, there were many studies that covered the cloud ERP without concentrating on acceptance the end user for this technology. Thus, this study comes to increase the understanding the attitude of the end user for cloud ERP technology. The main aim of this study is to investigate the employees’ attitude towards use of cloud ERP. The conceptual research framework of cloud ERP is prepared based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). The employees of Queen Rania Center (QRC) in Jordanian Education Ministry used the cloud ERP system which implemented according to this study. The questionnaires are distributed online to the sample. The results indicate that the QRC employees enjoyed using the cloud ERP system.

Introduction to Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate,Ministry of Natural Resources

The Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Ministry of Natural Resources, established in 2012 belongs to Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey. Prof. Neng-you Wu is the Director of Laboratory and Prof. Yu-guang Ye is the Director of Academic Committee (Fig. 1). Now, the laboratory has been recognized as one of the leading laboratories in the world in terms of gas hydrate experimental technology.

Luoyang Institute of Refractories Research Ministry of Metallurgical Industry

The Luoyang Institute of Refracto-ries Research(LIRR) under the Ministry ofMetallurgical Industry was founded in1964 and is a center for research and de-velopment on refractories science and te-chnology in People’ s Republic of China. Itis located in Luoyang on the southernbank of the Yellow River in Henan Provin-ce in Central China. The institute has atotal staff of about 700 members, includ-ing 350 scientific and technical person-nel with 57 senior engineers. The founderand first director of the institute wasProfessor ZHONG Xiangchong (H. S. Chong)who had worked at the United Steel Co.,Research and Development Department inSheffield and received his Ph. D. degree atLeeds University, England in 1949. He hand-ed over his directorship at the end of1984 and is now adviser and chief scien-

Ministry of Culture and Tourism Assembly Focuses on Cultural Exchange Efforts

The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism held the 2019 assembly from March 1 7 to 1 9 in Beijing, discussing cultural exchanges overseas, as well as in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. T he assembly emphasized to follow Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the implementing the spirit of the 19^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 19^th Central Committee of the CPC.

China Autos' Past, Present & Future—An Interview with Miao Yu, Deputy Director of the Automobile Industry Department, Ministry of Machine-building Industry

After the second world war, Japan and Korea realized their dream for automobiles. The development of the automobile industry has given an impetus to their whole national economy. When will the Chinese dream for automobiles come true? With this question in mind, our reporter interviewed Mr. Miao Yu. He briefed the reporter on the past,

Ministry Releases Guidance to Boost Tourism Performing Art

Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China released the Guidance On Boosting the Development of Tourism Performing Art (hereinafter referred to as the Guidance)? The Guidance focuses on boosting the transformation and upgrading of tourism performing art and making systematic guidance and planning for scientific development of tourism performing art with it as a key carrier for integrated development of culture and tourism?

New CIIS President Appointed by Foreign Ministry

On October 26,the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced the appointment of Ambassador Xu Bu as the President of China Institute of International Studies(CIIS).Zheng Zeguang,Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs,attended the appointment ceremony and expressed his hope for Ambassador Xu to unite the CIIS leadership and staff under the guidance of the Foreign Ministry and elevate the top-level think tank to a new height.

Maanshan Iron and Steel Design Institute under the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry

Founded in July 1962.Maanshan Iron and Steel DesignInstitute is an important design institute directly under theMinistry of Metallurgical Industry,and a state Class A designinstitute registered in World Bank and Asia DevelopmentBank,also a member unit of China International ConsultantsCompany and China Metallurgical Construction GroupCompany.It boasts a staff of 1.500,including 1,200 engineeringand technical people(400 senior engineers included).It has 22research offices,such as iron-smelting,steel making,steel-rolling,mining,dressing and sintering,34 engineering designfaculties,has well-equipped electronic computer stations,experimenting labs and printing factories,and has divisions inShanghai and Zhuhai. The institute is engaged in the engineering design,technical consultancy,supervision and general contract

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism Held a Meeting to Study and Implement the Spirit of the 2021 NPC and CPPCC

On March 12,2021,the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China held a meeting in Beijing to study and implement the spirit of the 2021 National People’s Congress(NPC)and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC).

Cooperation agreement reached between the Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangdong Province and C

On August 24, 2017, the Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangdong province and CNPC signed in Beijing a Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Promoting the Building of a Pilot Site for Exploring and Exploiting Gas Hydrate in the Shenhu Area of the South China Sea. The conclusion of this agreement will help accelerate the industrial development of gas hydrate in China, and is of great strategic significance to securing the country＇s energy security and optimizing its energy mix.

Twenty-seven Departments Establish a Joint Inter-ministry Meeting System for Care and Protection of Left-behind Children in Rural Areas

According to a document issued by the website of the Chinese government on April 5,in order to enhance the leadership and coordination of care and protection of left-behind children in rural areas and strengthen collaboration and cooperation between departments,

New CIIS President Appointed by Foreign Ministry

On January 2,the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the appointment of Ambassador Qi Zhenhong as the President of China Institute of International Studies.The appointment ceremony was attended by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zheng Zeguang,

Bulgaria,Boosting Energy Cooperation with China——Interview with Deputy Minister Yaneva,Ministry of Economy and Energy,the Republic of Bulgaria

Deputy Minister Yaneva of Economy and Energy,the Republic of Bul- garia,a nice lady with outstanding talents,headed a delegation of Bulgaria to visit China in late June,for the participation at the 13th Bulgarian-Chi- nese Intergovernmental Commission for Economic,Trade,Scientific and Technical Cooperation.As an important instrument,the Joint Commission played a significant role in promoting the overall development of the bilat- eral economic relations. China's Foreign Trade interviewed Deputy Minister Yaneva and she gave very constructive suggestions on promoting the bilateral economic and trade cooperation between the two countries,especially in the area of energy cooperation.The following is a written interview with Deputy Min- ister Yaneva.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection Issued a List of Major Changes in Construction Projects for 14 Industries Such as Pulping and Papermaking

In order to further standardize the management of environmental impact assessment,in accordance with relevant regulations of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Environmental Impact Assessment and the Regulations on the Administration of Environmental Protection of Construction Projects,according to the requirements of Notice on Issuing Major Changes list in Construction Projects for Certain Industries in Environmental Impact Assessment Management,combining environmental impact characteristics of different industries,the Ministry of Environmental Protection has formulated a list of major changes in construction projects for 14 industries including pulp and papermaking(trial)and released it on February 9th,2018.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection issued the Measures for the Administration of Pollutant Discharge Permits(Trial)

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