• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Oikonomia Network

Theology that Works

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Student Outcome Goals
    • Partner Schools
    • Leadership
    • Other Partners
  • Karam Forum
  • Newsletter
  • Resources
    • Economic Wisdom Project
    • Curricular Integration
    • Retreat Speakers
  • Contact
Dallas Willard

Dallas Willard

May 9, 2013 by Oikonomia Network

Tribute to Dallas Willard

By Fred Oaks

And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.  – 1 Thessalonians 1:5

This month we were all saddened by the news of Dallas Willard’s passing. Many faculty members in the Oikonomia Network were with Dallas in January when he spoke about economic wisdom and human flourishing at the network’s faculty retreat. This ON retreat, however, was not the first time the Kern Family Foundation worked with Dallas. In July 2010, he spent three memorable days with dozens of Kern Pastors and their spouses at the beautiful Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wis. The ideas he shared outline a view of human character and formation that serve, in many ways, as a foundation for the integration of faith, work, and economics.

Before the event, we surveyed Kern Pastors to find out whom they would most like to have teach them about character development and spiritual formation in the local church. The overwhelming favorite was Willard. These young pastors instinctively recognized the value of Willard’s wisdom and perspective.

He did not disappoint! Dallas began with the Gospel, challenging the Kern Pastors to consider whether their preaching had a natural tendency to produce disciples, or only consumers of religious goods and services. (See page 58 of “The Divine Conspiracy.”) He sought to inspire all in attendance to fulfill their calling as Christ-followers by being teachers of the nation (Matthew 28:19-20). Dallas offered the idea that grace, defined as “God working in your life,” is not opposed to effort, but to earning. He suggested the disciplines as means of intelligent training unto godliness.

Dallas’s presentations struck the delicate balance described in his book “Revolution of Character”: “So spiritual formation is both a profound manifestation of God’s gracious action through his Word and Spirit andsomething we are responsible for before God and can set about achieving in a sensible, systematic manner” (p. 19). Hours of presentations over three days addressed the vision, intention, and means of character formation in Christian community. His teachings were permeated with biblical references recited from memory.

During the retreat, several Foundation program staff members were invited to speak about the goals of the Kern family’s philanthropy. Imagine our delight when Dallas, rising to speak after we had described our programs, enthusiastically blessed us by saying he believed the Foundation’s mission was central to Christ’s will in these times!

Those who had the privilege of meeting Dallas in person have often remarked about the quality of his character. He lived as he taught. The young pastors and spouses at this retreat sensed Dallas’s deep concern for them. The Foundation provides free copies of the conference’s media products to Kern Pastors upon request.

Dallas’s influence will continue through his many writings and presentations, and through the lives of those he taught and inspired. We who remain might do well to petition the Lord, as did Elisha of old, for a double portion of our mentor’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9).

Follow Us

Archives

  • January 2021 (6)
  • November 2020 (12)
  • October 2020 (6)
  • September 2020 (6)
  • August 2020 (6)
  • July 2020 (6)
  • June 2020 (6)
  • May 2020 (6)
  • April 2020 (6)
  • March 2020 (6)
  • February 2020 (6)
  • January 2020 (6)
  • December 2019 (6)
  • November 2019 (6)
  • October 2019 (6)
  • September 2019 (6)
  • August 2019 (6)
  • July 2019 (6)
  • June 2019 (6)
  • May 2019 (6)
  • April 2019 (6)
  • March 2019 (6)
  • February 2019 (6)
  • January 2019 (6)
  • December 2018 (6)
  • November 2018 (6)
  • October 2018 (6)
  • September 2018 (6)
  • August 2018 (6)
  • July 2018 (6)
  • May 2018 (6)
  • April 2018 (6)
  • March 2018 (6)
  • February 2018 (6)
  • January 2018 (6)
  • December 2017 (6)
  • November 2017 (6)
  • October 2017 (6)
  • September 2017 (6)
  • August 2017 (6)
  • July 2017 (6)
  • June 2017 (6)
  • May 2017 (6)
  • April 2017 (6)
  • March 2017 (6)
  • February 2017 (6)
  • January 2017 (6)
  • December 2016 (6)
  • November 2016 (6)
  • October 2016 (6)
  • September 2016 (6)
  • July 2016 (6)
  • May 2016 (6)
  • April 2016 (6)
  • March 2016 (6)
  • February 2016 (6)
  • December 2015 (6)
  • November 2015 (6)
  • October 2015 (5)
  • September 2015 (6)
  • August 2015 (6)
  • May 2015 (6)
  • April 2015 (6)
  • March 2015 (6)
  • February 2015 (7)
  • December 2014 (5)
  • November 2014 (6)
  • October 2014 (5)
  • September 2014 (7)
  • August 2014 (6)
  • May 2014 (6)
  • April 2014 (6)
  • March 2014 (6)
  • February 2014 (7)
  • December 2013 (5)
  • November 2013 (6)
  • October 2013 (7)
  • September 2013 (6)
  • June 2013 (6)
  • May 2013 (5)
  • April 2013 (6)
  • March 2013 (6)

Copyright © 2021, The Oikonomia Network · Site by Mere Agency.