Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership today announced the launching of the Jesus Worldview Initiative in January 2024, providing programming and resources to advance the following of Jesus as the defining priority of Christian faith and practice. To date, the initiative has inspired a series of writings, retreats and resources that focus on the central figure of the Christian Bible and Christianity: Jesus.
Dr. John Pierce, director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative, will lead this second and expanding phase of the program as it moves to Belmont. The initiative originally grew out of his editorial writings in Nurturing Faith Journal, where he served as executive editor for 24 years.
“We are seeking to counter the redefinitions of Christianity — often labeled as ‘biblical worldview’ or ‘Christian worldview’— that tend to be fearful, exclusive and self-serving ideologies in contrast to Jesus’s life and teachings,” said Pierce. “This initiative provides a lens for seeing the ways the primary call to follow Jesus are actually present in or absent from Christian expressions today.”
The initiative will articulate, apply and advance a faith perspective that is rooted in following Jesus as revealed in his life and teachings. Within the Curb Center for Faith Leadership, the initiative will continue providing ways to refocus on following Jesus more intently as the highest priority for individual Christians, churches and other organizations.
Audiences of the Curb Center for Faith Leadership and the Jesus Worldview Initiative will combine to have an amplified impact.
“The national reach of the Jesus Worldview Initiative will help to promote and give further definition to the work of the Curb Center for Faith Leadership,” Dr. Jon R. Roebuck, Charlie Curb Center executive director, said. “It is a partnership that offers both programs the opportunity to build a strong network of authentic, well-equipped and joyfully inspired leaders to serve well.”
Designated charitable gifts will fund the initiative, allowing for the development of future programs and resources including:
- Presentations to churches and other Christian organizations
- Retreats, conferences and workshops
- Timely, published articles
- A resource-based web presence with a preaching/teaching library
- An E-newsletter to keep supporters and other interested persons informed
“The work of the Jesus Worldview Initiative fits well within the Rev. Charlie Curb Center’s goal of helping faith leaders remain relevant to culture and relational to community,” Roebuck said. “Helping faith leaders disentangle the message of Christ from the trappings of misguided cultural/political faith expressions is important work.”