Doug Goulding describes two shocking incidents he witnessed at the recent NCS National Retreat in Orlando that reveal the need for racial reconciliation even among NCS brudders. After transparently confessing the anger he felt when they occurred, Doug goes on to explain three keys that he believes can help bring racial reconciliation among followers of Jesus: knowing our true identity, awareness and forgiveness. In sharing these keys, Doug vulnerably describes some of hurtful experiences with racism that he has experienced or witnessed in his lifetime.
Christianity Matters (David Maloof – 11/16/18 – NCS New Canaan)
After describing the fascinating way that he came to be a part of the New Canaan Society, international transportation attorney David Maloof shares the journey that led to writing the book Christianity Matters: How Over Two Millennia the Meek and the Merciful Revolutionized Civilization — and Why It Needs to Happen Again.
While acknowledging that many injustices were committed in the name of Christianity, Maloof talks about the significant ways that the world has benefitted from the efforts of Christians living out the Beatitudes. He explains that they are things we often take for granted today, such as hospitals and the Red Cross, animal rights and the ASPCA, the YMCA, formal education for the masses, democracy, care for the poor, protection of religious freedom, the abolition of slavery, and the Civil Rights movement. He also shares why the morality and ideals of Christianity are desperately needed in the world today.
Maloof ends his talk by addressing various audience questions.
A God of Second Chances (Rev. Albert Ray Dancy – 10/19/18 – NCS New Canaan)
Rev. Albert Ray Dancy shares with tremendous vulnerability a life story that proves beyond any doubt that we worship a God of second chances. Dancy tells how he went from a prisoner serving time for armed robbery to a prison chaplain. He transparently notes that while his role had changed, his heart had not been transformed. For the heart change to occur, Dancy had to experience a “dark night of the soul” in which he lost everything–including his home, marriage and children. He explains how he felt like a “beast”. Although he was back in prison, God sent hope through a prophetic word and then miraculously restored him to his marriage (which had been dissolved for seven years), his children and his home.
Boldly Bringing Dignity, Hope and Humanity to Prison (Scott Semple – 3/23/18 – NCS New Canaan)
Scott Semple, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Correction, shares with great humility, transparency and emotion how the loss of his 15 year old son to cancer equipped him with the boldness to accept the position of Commissioner and take on the challenge of reforming Connecticut’s correctional facilities.
Together with Connecticut’s Governor, Semple visited prisons in Europe and witnessed “dignity, hope and humanity” in the system. He vowed to find a way to bring those qualities into the culture and operation of the Connecticut correctional system. In addition to sharing his heart for reform, Semple explains the six pillars he is instituting to complement Connecticut’s Second Chance Initiative. He also shares the reform journey that he and his staff have been on for the past few years, including a pilot project unlike any other prison experiment in the country. After 13 months, the results of the pilot are nothing short of extraordinary.
Click the link below to view a PDF of the slides used with Commissioner Semple’s presentation.
From Miracles to Faith at Work to Miracles (Kevon Saber – 2/23/18 – NCS New Canaan)
With great humility and vulnerability, Kevon Saber shares his incredible faith and life journey as an entrepreneur and a follower of Jesus–from the miraculous healing of his brother to an unexpected and unbelievably successful business meeting that was prophesied years earlier. Kevon describes huge steps of faith in which he and his partners did what they believed to be the right thing, even at the risk of their entrepreneurial ventures failing. And he testifies to how God showed up in unexpected and inexplicable ways, seemingly to honor that obedience and trust. Most importantly, Kevon shares his heart for the redemptive and God-glorifying potential of business.