Nominate a Spiritual Exemplar
Do you know someone who is changing the world? Is their work inspiring but not widely known? The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture is launching a global project on spiritual …
Author: dheller
February 1, 2004: “Free for Nothing, Good for Something” – Rev. Cecil Murray
“The greatest freedom is freedom from yourself,” Rev. Murray says in this sermon about freedom, relationships with other people and finding passion in life. He emphasizes the importance of treating other people …
USC’s Spiritual Exemplars Project to Uncover Stories of Hope
The Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC) at the University of Southern California is embarking on an ambitious project to tell 100 stories of exemplary individuals inspired by their spirituality to …
Jamila Afghani: Educating and Empowering Women in Afghanistan
Jamila Afghani is an advocate for women’s rights and education in Afghanistan. She is the founder and chairperson of the Noor Educational and Capacity Development Organization, which provides literacy training, income generation projects …
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Denis Mukwege Keeps the Faith in the Face of Violence
I had the privilege of interviewing 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Doctor Denis Mukwege in 2017 in the small country of Armenia, where he was a finalist for the Aurora Prize—a $1 …
December 12, 2000: “Enough is Enough” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray warns his congregation against materialism. He reminds them that Jesus is number one, and that nothing besides Jesus is permanent. Rev. Murray also reminds his congregation not …
August 10, 2003: “Cry Me a River” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray speaks about problems in the community, specifically how the work ethic has diminished, and people seem to be losing motivation or giving up. However, Rev. Murray reassures …
August 14, 1994: “It Only Takes a Few” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this Sermon, Rev. Murray talks about being God’s prisoner–or a prisoner of love–meaning that you “disturb the peace” of the status quo and make compromises for the sake of the Lord. …
August 16, 1998: “To Be Abashed or to Abound” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray encourages his congregation to push through hard times not with self-sufficiency, but with clear-eyed knowledge of their situation and “Christ-sufficiency.” He encourages them to continue to have …
August 21, 1994: “I Hear You Knocking But You Can’t Come In” – Rev. Cecil Murray
Pastor Murray in this sermon talks about “bubble Christians,” who think that their way is the only way and do not have an open mind. “You ain’t been baptized; you just had …