Today Confident Christianity is participating in the COVID-19 Giving Tuesday campaign. We agree with heart behind this global initiative that seeks to mobilize the world through giving.

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“We believe that generosity has the power to unite and heal communities in good times and bad. A global threat like COVID-19 touches every person on the planet, and it presents an opportunity to come together as a global community.”

#givingtuesdaynow campaign

As a result of Covid-19, the entire economy of Victoria Falls Zimbabwe has collapsed overnight. The 35,000 inhabitants of this tourist destination town have regularly faced significant hardship with dignity. However, for the first time with tourism at a standstill the loss of income and starvation is beyond their control.

With the entire town now unemployed, The Jafuta Foundation is assisting with training programs for local small scale farmers to learn new farming techniques that are vital for future sustainability, but there is an immediate need to ensure food is available now as well.

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Why do we want to support Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe?

Our connection to these people goes back to an apologetics conference in New Zealand. Though it sounds crazy…it actually is kind of crazy. While speaking at the Confident Christianity Conference in NZ, I met a young apologist who showed immense concern for the value of human life, Narelle Henson. She is witty, fun, but also speaks with great compassion and conviction. I was immediately impressed with this young apologist, but then I learned that she was going to pack up her family and move across the world to Zimbabwe to be a light in the Victoria Falls community. I’ve been following her family’s journey via Facebook and stayed connected through messages back and forth. Recently, she messaged me that she had started reading my book, and so I took the opportunity to ask how her family was doing through the COVID pandemic. Her reply floored me. She said that they were doing alright, but the people of Victoria Falls were facing possible starvation.

Victoria Falls’ economy depends largely on Western tourism for their livelihood, and so 90% of the people are without jobs due to the pandemic. Without a stable government to provide life-sustaining support, the people are faced with dire circumstances. Narelle has started a community garden in which she is attempting to grow food for the people around her, but the need is immediate. While I know there are more situations out there like this one, I want to try to help where I can. So, I’m asking you to join Confident Christianity in donating towards food and supplies to help the people stabilize their situation.

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The photos above are from the urban planting initiative Narelle writes about here. This initiative will be another great long term solution for local food. Below, Mary Jo and Narelle pause for a picture at the Confident Christianity conference in New Zealand.

The Jafuta Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 organisation in the USA. It is 100% NOT FOR PROFIT and all funds donated go directly towards our causes and projects. There are no administration costs and the Foundation relies on donations to continue its operations.  

Donate via PayPal directly to the Jafuta Foundation Here.

In October Mary Jo participated in an audience Q&A panel session as a part of the Unbelievable? USA Conference at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, CA. Listen to her discussion along with Ruth Jackson, John Lennox, Mary Jo Sharp, AJ Roberts, Brian Brodersen and Bobby Conway.

Justin Brierley and Mary Jo also sat down to talk about her book Why I Still Believe.

You can watch the video of the panel discussion and interview here.

Mary Jo sat down with Ryan and Seth to record a podcast in between her teaching sessions last month at the Arkansas Lead>Defend Conference.

Here are the questions they discussed:

• We’ve heard a lot of deconversion stories lately, tell us why that’s not your story? 
• How did you find a resolution to that tension you had for the church? 
• What do you think inspires certain people to walk away from the faith?
• What is the danger of having it both ways?
• What are some resources for young adults and students to find and seek out the truth for themselves?
• If you had one word to give, of encouragement, to college students and young adults, what would it be at this phase in their life?
• Do you have more hope for the generation to come, in light of those things?
• What is your word to the church today? 

Listen to their Conversation Here

There’s a lot going on in the world right now, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic and health situation it poses for many of us. I’ve watched as Christian ministries step up to offer some encouragement via social media, and these messages are a welcome balance to the daily news, which can dishearten, if not frighten us. In a time that can feel so uncertain, sometimes we need a little something to help us work through our thoughts and feelings.

So, it is with that general spirit in mind, that I offer up a discussion series on YouTube that I’m calling, “Author Chat.” The series is a collection of one-minute videos in which I answer one question from the back of each chapter of “Why I Still Believe.” I’ll post one of these short videos per week and you are then invited to discuss your own responses in the comments section. My hope is that not only will you find some small reprieve from all that we have to handle right now, but that you will also have a chance to work through some of your own thoughts about the Christian faith.  

I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts on each question as well as other sections of each chapter that stood out to you. When you subscribe to the channel you will receive email notifications each time we post a new video.

Looking for a copy of Why I Still Believe? In addition to Amazon.com, which is currently low on stock, check out these resources: BarnesandNoble.com, BooksaMillion.com, ChristianBook.com, FaithGateway.com, https://getitlocaltoday.com/, and https://bookshop.org/, you can also download the eBook or audio book!

Mary Jo was a guest on Solas PEP Talk Podcast with Andy Bannister. Andy asked:

How can we present the gospel through our lives and in our churches when, unlike Christ Himself, we are far from perfect?

As they discussed Why I Still Believe Mary Jo and Andy consider how navigating the tricky waters of hypocrisy or painful experiences is so important in bringing friends and family to Christ.

Listen to their podcast discussion here.

Recently Nancy Flory interviewed Mary Jo for The Stream. Here’s a Preview:

Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist Shares Her Story on Why She Became a Christian and an Apologist

Mary Jo Sharp’s agnostic parents introduced her to nature, science and art. The amount of beauty that she saw in the world, especially in nature, impressed her. She felt a sense of wonder and awe at the universe. “I began to wonder what all of this meant. Was it just that we lived and died and there was nothing more to it? It didn’t seem to match up with my experience of it.”

In a way, her agnostic parents accidentally pointed her to Christianity. 

A Love of Beauty

Mary Jo, a former atheist from the Pacific northwest, is now a Christian author and apologist. Her newest book is Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist’s Reckoning With the Bad Reputation Christians Give a Good God. Mary Jo spoke with The Stream about her book and how she became a Christian, even with agnostic parents. 

As a musician, she played works of art intended to move people. “I thought, ‘Move them to what? What are we looking for? What are we trying to experience?’” She began to look for the meaning behind all of the beauty she saw in the world.

In high school, Mary Jo’s Christian band director talked with her about Christ. He then gave her a Bible. When she read the Bible, it all made sense — beauty, goodness and truth; a sense of right and wrong; and justice and injustice. “It was giving a grounding to all of those things. And that’s how I moved out of my youthful atheism into belief that there must be a God behind the universe.”

Accepting Jesus — and Disillusionment With the Church

Mary Jo gave her life to Christ at 20. She decided to go to church for her first worship service. She put on her best dress. But when she stepped inside the church, the pastor’s wife confronted her. She told Mary Jo that she needed to find more appropriate clothing — “something that doesn’t show cleavage.”

Mary Jo wrote in her book that “first-time church attendance should come with a disclaimer. Churches could post a sign or place fine print at the bottom of the bulletin: ‘Church attendance may cause extreme discomfort. Side effects of interactions with humans include, but are not limited to, doubt, anger, disappointment, and disillusionment.’” She immediately began to distrust the church leaders. Read the rest of the article here

To learn more about The Stream head to their About Page here.

Mary Jo was a recent guest on Christ, Culture & Coffee Podcast with Robby Lashua. Robby is also the Pastor of Apologetics at Desert Springs Community Church and Associate Professor at Mission Bible Institute.

You can listen to the their interview on SoundCloud Spotify or iTunes Episode 96: From Atheist to Christian Apologist-Special Guest Mary Jo Sharp or you watch their conversation on YouTube!

Mary Jo was a guest of the Wesley Seminary Podcast recently. Listen to her interview on podcast #117 titled From Atheist to Apologist

Mary Jo discusses her latest book Why I Still Believe with Rev. Aaron Perry, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Listen to Mary Jo’s Interview Here