Published here: https://www.diu.edu/jlcr/volume-4-number-2/
I attended a very friendly African American church. The adult Sunday School class resounded with biblical truth, and was permeated with humility. The pastor was strongly evangelical and missions-minded. He spoke of love and forgiveness from the pulpit. Yet he ignored me when walking by and I was the last one he acknowledged at the end of the service by the pulpit. Some years previous he had asked for my help to raise money for an addition to his church. Judging from the expensive cars in the parking lot at that time, instead I offered to teach a financial stewardship seminar at no cost—an offer not taken. The new addition was up and in use the day I came. Only God knows the reasons for the coldness, but finances perhaps had some part. Much mistrust between black and white clergy exists in America, with some very notable exceptions. Because Christ lives in all born-again Christians, we have the best chance of any group on the planet to be reconciled, through our oneness in Christ and through the grace He provides to forgive and love.
Since 1972, Jim (RMNI Director) and Judi Sutherland have been missionaries among African Americans.
Jim taught Personal Financial Management at Cedine Bible Institute, Covenant College, Teen Challenge of Chattanooga, Tenn., and at churches and retreats in the US, and various other countries. For nine years Jim was a Seminar Field Representative for Christian Financial Concepts, Inc. (now Crown Ministries).
In 1998, Jim completed a PhD in Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois, focusing upon the reasons why there are so few African Americans engaged in cross-cultural mission. A major focus of ministry is to encourage the African American church in her obedience to the Great Commission.
Free debt/budget counseling may be available in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area to couples and individuals of any ethnic or spiritual background.
RMNi is available to consult with churches in financial stewardship and to African American churches in missions development. Seminars are also available.
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Here are links to tremendous resources to further your theological and specifically missions studies.
A scriptural overview of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Some sincere Christians believe that speaking in tongues is the evidence of the Spirit's indwelling. Speaking in Tongues and other issues of the Spirit are examined here.
How can we know God?--a biblical response
Tremendous resources for theological and missions studies are available, and some of them are free. Here are links to some of the best resources.
These are slide decks in the Microsoft PowerPoint format that are available to view online or download for use according to a Creative Commons License. All decks were created and research done by Dr. Jim Sutherland, unless otherwise noted. Work of others is presented here with permission. Please contact us if you find any technical issues or have any questions about the material presented. Below is a sampling from each category of slide deck, click "Read More ..." to see more decks in that category.
Below are articles, teaching on various topics, by Jim Sutherland, Phd. Permission is granted to copy, print, and distribute, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Topics are listed to the left. Below are some of the articles for viewing:
The commands of Christ are the foundation for Christian discipleship, according to Matthew 28:20. Since knowing the truth sets a Christian free (John 8:32), each command liberates a follower a little more, through obedience.
Here are 9 of Christ's commands (other papers on His commands are planned). Feel free to use these in your discipleship.
Annual federal financial information
for this ministry can be accessed at:
Partnering in missions with:
and