National
Pastors' Prayer
Network
CITY CONNECTIONS
- 07/06/2003
Recently Updated On
http://www.nppn.org:
€Calendar
€Pastor Phil's Ministry
€City Impact Roundtable
€Global Network
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I N T H I S U P D A T E ...
and for our prayers:
* A NOTE FROM PASTOR PHIL
1. NPPN INNER~VIEWS: CONNECTING PEOPLE
2. TAMPA, FL- ANOINTED FOR BUSINESS SEMINAR
3. ST. LOUIS, MO: CIR FOLLOW-UP
4. AUSTIN, TX: CIR REPORT
5. CINCINNATI: TRANSFORMATION EVENT
6. CHICAGOLAND: PRAYER FOR FRONTIER MISSIONS
7. FRESNO, CA: NO NAME FELLOWSHIP
8. DALLAS, TX: 50 CITY RECONCILERS
9. ALABAMA HOSTS SOLEMN ASSEMBLY FOR:
FL, GA, SC, NC, TN, AL, LA, MS
10. MEMO TO OVER 800 PPGs...
11. CHICAGO, IL: BRIDGING THE RACIAL DIVIDE
12. RALEIGH, NC: MENTORING SEMINAR FOR PASTORS
13. ANYWHERE, USA: A SERMON PREP SYSTEM
14. HOUSTON, TX: A CALL TO PERSEVERING LEADERSHIP
15. CONNECTING: METHODIST URBAN MINISTRY
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If the Church is to achieve even modest success in City Transformation, we must
increase our collaboration and improve our communication. Many of the postings
below will encourage you and increase our collective hope as more and more of us
connect in meaningful ways around the Cross of Christ.
Our Annual City Impact Roundtable and the National Leadership Forum this October
have the potential of bringing hundreds of us together to pray over and
deliberate over the salient issues facing our work in cities and communities
both small and large. Will you ask the Lord for the faith to register, recruit
others, and meet with us in New York City?
Phil
- - - -
The National Leadership Forum will bring hundreds of
strategic Christian leaders together to examine principles of collaborative
evangelism, explore “best practices” in congregations and across cities, and
express our obedience to the Holy Spirit through new partnerships and
enterprises for the Kingdom of God.
>From: Wwalton2normanok@aol.com [mailto:Wwalton2normanok@aol.com]
My name is Woodrow E. Walton, I am an Assemblies of God minister and also Dean
of the Seminary of American Christian College and Seminary in Oklahoma City. I
caught a question in the Inner-Views #009 of 6/27/03 from Harold Hendrick of St.
Louis to Ed Silvoso of Harvest Evangelism: "Did you contact with an Oklahoma
City businessman who is head Fellowship of Christian Companies International?"
I know who he is talking about. He is Kent Humphreys and is a friend of mine.
He is the brother of Kirk Humphreys, the mayor of Oklahoma City, and the son of
Jack Humphreys who has been connected with Billy Graham for many years. He is a
definitely a person to know. He has a tremendous ministry through the
marketplace. His office is but less than a mile from American Christian College
and Seminary on North Meridian. I have printed off your mailing and will
deliver a copy of it to Mr. Humphreys on Monday, June 30, 2003.
Sincerely yours, Woodrow E. Walton
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Harvest Evangelism" <marketplacetransformation@harvestevan.org>
--->NPPNote: Please refer to our recent NPPN Inner~Views #010 from the
Cities & Communities Conferecne Call with Ed Silvoso: http://www.nppn.org
Extraordinary things are happening in the marketplace today as Christians
realize that God has anointed them to impact the workplace. This is why we are
inviting you to a most strategic and dynamic event scheduled in Tampa, Florida
for September 13th: the ANOINTED FOR BUSINESS seminar with Ed Silvoso and Peter
and Tamara Lowe who will be joined by Dave Thompson, Rick Heeren and Jack Serra.
This is a one-of-a-kind event and we want you to be part of it.
God has supernaturally gifted Ed Silvoso to present fresh insights from the
Scriptures that cause the whole Bible to come alive. Thousands of people who
have attended his seminars have been touched by God, and as a result cities all
over the world have been transformed by people who learned how to apply God's
power in the workplace. Ed is not a theoretician but a practitioner who
combines "dual citizenship" as an ordained minister trained in business who has
had a successful career in health, banking and finance before joining his
brother-in-law Luis Palau to do mass evangelism. Jack Hayford has stated, "Ed is
one of the clearest, most coherent, thoroughly biblical teachers we have today."
Peter and Tamara Lowe don't need introduction as they are well known all over
the world as pioneers in marketplace transformation who have impacted millions
with their God given message. We are privileged that Peter and Tamara are
teaming up with Ed because this is indeed a unique and most powerful
combination. They have stated, "We have deep respect and admiration for Ed
Silvoso. He is a brilliant intellect, a gifted strategist, a biblical scholar
and a powerful communicator. We do not know of anyone who is better qualified
than Ed Silvoso to bring together the dynamics of evangelism and business."
Ed's three vice-presidents bring unique perspectives: Dave Thompson understands
the mindset of the pastor like very few people do and his insights are vital for
pastors to be able to envision marketplace leaders in their congregations. Rick
Heeren's successful career in the insurance business serves him well as he
teaches how corporate America can see the power of God released in the board
room. Jack Serra, who made his mark in the pharmaceutical industry, teaches how
to make sure that marriage and family do not become the first casualties in the
ascent of the corporate ladder. All three men are a powerful addition to what Ed
Silvoso and the Lowes bring.
We encourage you to set aside September 13 to be empowered to experience divine
success in the marketplace. Please see the enclosed brochure for details and
register right away by mail, phone or on- line http://harvestevan.org/Tampa%20Seminar.htm
.Since space is limited registrations will be accepted on a first come, first
served basis only.
May the Lord richly bless you!
Evelyn Wallace, Director of Operations
Harvest Evangelism, Inc.
Pray Central Florida – Praying for Central Florida and encouraging the Church
in Central Florida to pray. To subscribe to this Pray Central Florida
monthly prayer newsletter send an E-mail to praycf@juno.com
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Harold & Joan Hendrick" <hhhendrick@usa.com>
We experienced special joy upon being allowed to be a part of the answer to
the prayer of our Lord Jesus! For in John 17:20-23, Jesus prayed that those who
were His -- those who would come along after His time on the earth -- "...that
all of them may be one, Father...so that the world may believe that you have
sent me." (v. 17)
And His prayer to The Father continued: "May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you
have loved me." (v. 20)
Beyond any effort that humans could self-generate, The Living God worked
across all sorts of "lines" -- racial, economic, denominational, geographic,
cultural -- at our recent St. Louis City Impact Roundtable. The bonding, the
friendships, the interaction, the joy, the expanded visions ---were all advanced
by the Holy Spirit's power.
The attachment is the list of most of the CIR participants. Please check
the information on yourself closely. We want the information, including
spelling, to be accurate. Let us know of corrections that should be made.
Perhaps you prefer a different phone number, land or email address to be listed.
We have heard wonderful reports of the meetings of the several working
groups. Any of you who missed the end of the last session likely missed
selecting a group that you would like to be a part. Let us know.
And please be reminded of our monthly prayer time -- next meeting at the
Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church property at 5508 Dr. Martin Luther
King Drive. It is located west of Kingshighway and Union, and east of
Goodfellow. Our intercessions will include requests for God's fruit would
continue to result from our St. Louis City Impact Roundtable.
Another seed to plant in your heart and mind: the next gathering of the
National City Impact Roundtable will meet as a part of the Mission America
Annual Meeting in New York City October 5-8. Please pray about your being a
part of this important gathering. The national leadership are hoping that the
Church of Greater St. Louis will be well represented. Each of you is a part of
that Church!
May Many Blessing In Christ Jesus Be Yours,
Harold Hendrick (on the planning team with Brenda Young, Rick Brockmeier,
Michael Jones, Benny King, and James Nesbit -- who received excellent input from
national Mission America leaders Glenn Barth and Phil Miglioratti)
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: CityTransformers@aol.com
A thousand thanks to all of you that participated in the Austin regional CIR. 57
people participated in the sessions of prayerfully strategizing on the most
effective ways to mobilize the whole Church to take the whole Gospel to the
whole City. The spirit of God was present as we brainstormed, dialogued,
prayed, fellowshipped, asked questions and heard success stories from those who
are impacting our Cities. Join hands in praying for a neutral platform for
genuine collaboration of Church/denominational leaders. Let's lift Jesus up in
the City.
Highlights of the report
* Diversity in worship
* WE must invest in unity
* I love God more than I disagree with you
* We are all students of the bible and culture
* We don't have to be in control
* Not what I get out of this but what I bring to it
* Austin is different and must be reached with a different strategy
* It takes the whole Church to reach the whole man and City
What next? Where do we go from here?
Leaders with a citywide vision continue to meet and pray and discuss the way
forward towards a neutral, God-led, all embracing platform for a mega-size
city-reaching movement in the Austin region. Not just prayers, but evangelism,
care, share, worship, partnership ... It takes the whole Church to win the whole
City!
Please contact us -His servant, C. Benjamin Anyacho.
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Terry Fisher" <tfisherff@cinci.rr.com>
Transformation Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky coordinated a Prayer and Worship
event at the Great American Ballpark. The event was held on June 21, 2003 from
10:00 AM until 12:00 MIDNIGHT.
The prayer topics included the following:
Government
Business
Families/Schools/Youth
Churches & Christian Ministries
Reconciliation
US & World
The New Beginning
The basic message given was:
1. God's people would realize there is only one enemy and it is not each other.
2. Churches in our area would come together for unity in Jesus, not uniformity
in theology.
3. Christians would set aside their personal agendas for a greater agenda of
service to God and others.
4. Christians would accept God's forgiveness, forgive each other, and forgive
themselves.
5. Christians would love God and love each other.
When you walked into the stadium, you knew that this day God was present with
great power! The faithful people who gathered that day to pray and worship God
were transformed and filled with a love and compassion for the people of
Cincinnati that still need to know Him. IT WAS A GREAT DAY...PRAISE GOD!!
Terry Fisher, The Firm Foundation
Toll Free: 866-833-6863 / Mobil: 513-403-5869
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Chuck & Sheila Straka" <straka1@usexpress.net>
Elgin's House of Prayer & Regional Training Center
Mission Morning::What God is Doing in Frontier Missions
John and Vicki Purviance of YWAM, Colorado Springs will be a the HOP
Tuesday, July 8th 9:00 - 10:30 am
There will be a short presentation, question and answer period and a time of
prayer
We greatly encourage anyone who has an interest in praying for missions or short
or long term opportunities to attend.
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Becky Ray" <rjr4prayer@sbcglobal.net>
Shalom from Fresno! First of all, let me congratulate you on the New Look of
the Webpage. It's fantastic!
Sorry it's taken me so long to respond to getting the information about No Name
Fellowship to you. Hope this will inspire others to network.
We meet once a month at difference civic buildings, ministry sites, correctional
facilities, etc. The goal is to release God's resources through reconciled
relationships to rebuild our city. It's also a time of Christian Fellowship and
hearing the hearts of our leaders. The concept was birthed at a Pastors
Prayer Summit. It is open to Christian business men and women, civic leaders,
pastors, ministry leaders and others who have a heart to see transformation in
our city. Recently, other cities in our Valley have also started No Name
Fellowships. Another way we connect in Fresno is through CityBuilders
Round Table. The CityBuilders Roundtable is a monthly forum where
Christ-centered missional agencies are able to gather for prayer and sharing.
This forum also provides an opportunity for very diverse agencies to build
relationships and resource one another. It is not unusual for a ministry agency
to share a need in the meeting and have a sister agency respond in the meeting
so that the need is met. Another goal of the CityBuilders forum is to do
strategic planning for our city. If we can embrace a shared vision statement
for our city, then we can utilize our resources where they best fit the needs
and challenges of our city.
Faith-based ministries in the Fresno area working together collaboratively to
build and sustain the spiritual, economic, educational, social and justice
infrastructures of our city and county through Christ-centered ministry with
individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities, reconciling every class,
culture and race.
God's richest blessings on you and the ministry God has called you to.
Becky Ray
ESA/Love INC Prayer Mobiliztion Coordinator/Director Lighthouses of Prayer
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: Dorothyrom@aol.com
The next City Reconciler meeting for Dallas is scheduled for August 22 to
pray ffor the Last Call that will be in Dallas in November.
Our small prayer groups are ongoing and very strong. The one that meets oon
Tuesday morning runs about 50 each week and is an interesting racial mix with
about 20 blacks, and 15 hispanics in the group.
God Be With You, Sis Dorothy
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Sharon Gonzales" <sharong@cfl.rr.com>
September 11 -13, 2003
Consecrate a fast, call a solemn assembly; Gather the elders and all the
inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, And cry out to the
Lord. Joel 1:14
The focus of this meeting is regional. The repentance each state has done has
prepared us to come together as a region. Our corporate anointing will
thrust us into a new level. We will be doing together what an individual
state cannot do alone. We will be dealing with issues such as: political
corruption/rebellion against authority {our region seceding from the nation,
corruption in our governmental leaders and courts,etc.}, idolatry {covetousness,
freemasonry, Mary worship, etc.}, hate groups {KKK, neo-nazi,etc.}, vice
{gambling, pornography, etc.} Child Abuse and Covenant & Contract Breaking
{divorce, bankruptcy, parents who aren't paying their child support, etc.}
Our Host Location is:
Christ Chapel
3051 Cloverdale Road
Florence, Alabama 35633
(map to church is available on-line at info@christ-chapel.org)
~ CHILDREN ARE WELCOME - but no child care will be provided ~
Contact for Registration and Information
Diane Buker
SE Regional Coordinator
7790 SW 127th Street
Miami, FL 33156
305.232.5014
diane@battleaxe.org
Registration fee: Early bird registration must be received by August 15, 2003:
For individual or married couple $35 Received after Aug. 15 and onsite
registration: For individual or married couple: $45
Make registration checks payable to: Battle Axe Brigade - note mailing address
above
Assembly Sessions:
Thursday, Sept. 11 - evening session 7 PM
Friday, Sept. 12 - morning session 9 AM
evening session 7 PM
Saturday, Sept. 13 - morning session 9 AM
This is why we need a Solemn Assembly...
In a recent Barna Research Group study, American churchgoers reported their
views on certain moral issues:
~ 41% believe that abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances.
~ 48% believe that sexual relations between consenting adults of the same
gender should be legal.
~ 45% believe that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. 30% approved
of clergy performing or blessing gay marriages.
~ 49% believe that watching a movie with explicit sexual behavior is
morally acceptable. 43% believe that reading a magazine with nudity or explicit
sexual pictures is morally acceptable. 58% believe that having sexual
fantasies is morally acceptable.
American churchgoers reported their views on substance abuse:
~ 25% believe that using marijuana for non-medicinal purposes is morally
acceptable.
~ 36% believe that getting drunk is morally acceptable.
American churchgoers reported their views on financial stewardship: 61% believe
that declaring personal bankruptcy is morally acceptable.
American churchgoers reported their views on divorce and sexual fidelity:
~ 37% believe that it is okay to divorce for any reason.
~ 58% believe that cohabitation is morally acceptable.
~ 29% have had a sexual relationship with someone other than their spouse.
~ 34% of adults of non-denominational churches have experienced divorce in
their lifetime. 29% of Baptists have experienced divorce. 21% of Catholics and
Lutherans have experience divorce. Mainstream Protestant churchgoers have a 25%
divorce rate. Overall, 27% of born-again Christians have experienced divorced
compared to 24% for the rest of Americans.
A Look at Morality and the Church, Barna Research Group, 2001
___________________________________________________>>>
Send us a 3 -5 sentence emessage to encourage the other 700 PPG's across the
nation. Click on phil@nppn.org
ALSO - Please, take a moment to review / revise your contact information...
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: "Susan Demel" <sdemel@willowcreek.org>
Extension Ministries of Willow Creek is hosting a workshop series on Bridging
the Racial Divide, every Wednesday in July from 6-7:15 pm.
July 2 — What to Expect When You Are Expecting…A Multi-Racial Congregation
George Yancey
July 9 –– Making Life Work…Together – Inter-Racial Marriages, Dating and
Relationships
Harold, Cheryl and the Spooner family
July 16 –– The Theology and Practice of Reconciliation
Leah Gaskin Fitchue
July 23 –– Reconciliation Within the Church
Curtiss DeYoung
July 30 –– Reaching Latino’s Across the Divide
Noel Castellanos
For more information and to register at no fee for any one, or all of the
sessions, go to www.willowcreek.org <http://www.willowcreek.org/> and
click on Bridging the Racial Divide Workshop icon on the home page.
Thanks and Peace...
Susan Demel
Urban Alliance Director , Extension Ministries of Willow Creek
(224) 512-1196 direct
(773) 972-9991 mobile
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: Biblicalwm@aol.com
Rev. Stephen Crotts will be teaching a seminar on mentoring July 10, 2003 from
1:00 PM until 3:30 PM here at Biblical Wellness Ministries. Everyone is invited
to attend. There is a suggested donation of $10.00. For registration
information, please contact Jerry Kinard or Rebecca Reams at 783-6075.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT: "Helping to develop healthy churches served by healthy
leaders as we offer God's love, encouragement, truth and hope to those in
ministry and lay leadership."
PASTORAL COUNSELING AVAILABLE: A reminder that BWM has a pastoral counselor on
staff. Dr. James J. Seymour is available for counseling by appointment on MWF
from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM for pastors and their families, or for church leaders
and their families. BWM is a safe place to come.
BWM IS COLLECTING CELL PHONES AND INKJET CARTRIDGES: You can help contribute to
the ministry of BWM by donating your old cell phone or used ink jet cartridges.
BWM receives $7.00 for each cell phone that qualifies and $2.00 for each
inkjet cartridge that qualifies. Please call Jerry Kinard or Rebecca Reams at
783-6075 for more information.
BWM PRESENTATION: Biblical Wellness Ministries would be happy to come to your
church and give a presentation about our ministry. Please give us a call at
783-6075.
1215 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 201, Raleigh, NC 27606
919-783-6075 (Office) / 919-783-0655 (Fax)
http: //www.biblicalwellness.org / biblicalwm@aol.com
___________________________________________________>>>
CIty Reaching Events
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City Reaching
http://www.cityreaching.com/
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___________________________________________________>>>
>From: David Mains <davidm@teamsundays.org>
>Reply-To: info@teamsundays.org
On several occasions recently I've given time to local area pastors to help them
think through their sermons. Each time they thanked me profusely and said how it
quickly focused what it was they were wanting to say.
I realize now that these were some valuable lessons I learned during the years I
was doing six radio broadcasts and five television shows a week. What I did was
develop systems that allowed me to do quick but effective sermon work.
I have scheduled three Tuesdays (July 15, 22, 29) to be on the phone from
11-Noon Central Time for anyone who wants to join me. The number to call is
702-821-1425. I'll take a couple of minutes to make opening comments, then find
out from you what your text is and where you're headed with the sermon. If
several are on the line we'll work as a team
to help each other.
Should the exercise prove valuable, I'll schedule some more times during August.
Looking forward to talking with anyone interested.
Have a good week! David R. Mains
P.S. Look for Sunday solutions on our web site,
http://sundaysolutions.com
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: Doug Stringer <dougstr@attglobal.net>
Research has shown that 70% of leaders in the church do not finish their race
well.Factors contributing to the high burnout among clergy include:
Lack of fellowship and close friendships with their peers
Lack of knowledge and experience to complete the task
Many in leadership are facing strenuous challenges right now.More than ever we
need to run the race with strength, focused on what God wants us to do, not what
we are going through.
The opportunities for effective ministry have never been greater.It is my
privilege to serve on the board of directors of the Sentinel Group - a ministry
formed by George Otis Jr. to, among other things, document revivals that have
tangibly transformed communities.You are likely familiar with the
“Transformations” video series.Whereas a few years ago, there were only 8
communities identified as being transformed, we were informed at a recent board
of directors meeting that there are now at least 175 communities known to have
experienced significant transformation.Why not Houston also?And then from
Houston to the four corners of the world.
Persevering Leadership is the first of the 5 commonalities for transformed
communities identified by Sentinel Group.For many years Turning Point Ministries
International has helped to Equip, Enhance, Encourage and Empower the Church.We
formed Somebody Cares Houston as a vehicle to be a catalyst for uniting the Body
of Christ in Houston to impact the city with tangible expressions of the love of
Christ.Our goal is to facilitate unity with the purpose of “mending the net” to
fulfill the Great Commission in our city. To this end, we are reinstating
monthly meetings for pastors and leaders that will provide a forum for
vision-casting, networking, and fellowshipping as well as working together on
projects that impact our city (including the upcoming back to school and holiday
of hope outreaches).
When:July 10th, 2003
Where:Somebody Cares Center, 10000 NW Freeway (HW 290), Suite 100
Time:9:30 am till noon
Topic:Persevering Leadership
Special Guest:George Otis Jr., (Founder, Sentinel Group)
We will also report on the upcoming Call Texas event at the Cotton Bowl in
Dallas and how you can participate.More than 1 million people have attended the
6 previous calls for prayer, fasting, and worship.It is the seventh and final
call in the USA.Is it also the final wake up call for the church?
Together we become part of something bigger than ourselves.You are an important
part of God’s plan for the transformation of our community.Please join us on the
10th.
Sincerely, Doug Stringer
Somebody Cares Houston
713-621-1498
P.S. We will also debut “The Quickening”, an introduction to the core principles
of transformation and the incredible things happening in places like Fiji.
___________________________________________________>>>
>From: roger@cityvoices.com
Denominational initiatives on behalf of urban ministry have been with us for the
past decade -- and in some cases longer. What are they accomplishing on behalf
of city churches? How do their basic goals differ? What are these initiatives
telling us about the need for more in the way of an intentional commitment to
urban?
As the first installment in exploration of this topic, June’s CityVoices brings
you two interviews with people spearheading urban ministry initiatives within
quite differing denominations: the United Methodist Church and the Free
Methodist Church. The UMC is large, with many urban congregations, a
highly-developed organizational structure and a long history of urban
involvement. The Free Methodists are by comparison much smaller, midwestern in
nature and less inclined to have formal structures for urban ministry. We hope
the comparison of these two denominational initiatives not only educates, but
also prompts new ideas as to how you or your own denomination can do a better
job.
Within early June, Dr. Mike Snow’s thesis "A Model for Transition of Ministry
in Declining Congregations," has sold as well as any of our resource
products. If you haven’t yet purchased your copy, contact CityVoices at (773)
477-8163. The thesis sells for $10.
God’s grace and peace today,
Let’s stay in touch, Roger Johnson, Editor – CityVoices
********************
Holy Boldness is the urban ministry initiative adopted by
the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church back in
1996. This urban mission plan continues on today, reaffirmed by its board and
denomination as an avenue for growth and renewal on the part of United Methodist
churches and agencies ministering in cities. Serving as Executive Director of
the Office of Urban Ministries is Diane Johnson. In an interview, she describes
for us much about Holy Boldness and its impact over the years.
In 1995 there was United Methodist convocation for urban
practitioners in Birmingham, Alabama. And that was the first urban convocation
the General Board of Global Ministries had sponsored in 19 years. We were
expecting about 200-250 people. It turned out that we had to cut it off
registrations at 650 because the hotel couldn’t accommodate any more. We saw an
urgent and strong desire for what we were presenting. The convocation was
intended to identify the needs of urban practitioners across the country. We
found they wanted an Urban Plan they could grab hold of and work with.
Practitioners arrived at goals and objectives in seven different areas -- 1)
Urban theology, 2) Evangelism and congregational development, 3) Eradication of
racism, 4) Leadership development, 5) Community economic development, 6)
Wholeness, healing and health, 7) Strengthening of multicultural relationships
-- all of which they wanted our office to concentrate upon. In 1996 that plan
was taken to our General Conference and adopted as the official urban ministry
plan for the United Methodist Church.
The United Methodist Church has 64 annual conferences in the
continental United States. A couple of our regional conferences of United
Methodist Churches have adopted this same Holy Boldness plan as their own
over-arching purpose. For instance, the Baltimore-Washington Conference calls
itself a "Holy Boldness Conference." They have put staff in place to address the
very issues that came out of that initiative. They produced a "Holy Boldness
Bible" and have Bible studies centered on the seven goals of Holy Boldness.
The other big part of it is that we have now trained about seven annual
conferences, more than 500 individuals and 200 churches and organizations with
our "Urban Academy," and that number will grow to nine annual conferences this
year.
We launched the Urban Academy back in 1997 with our East Ohio
and West Ohio conferences. Following that start, we held academies in Detroit
and West Michigan, also in Minnesota, then in Pittsburgh and Portland, Oregon.
We will soon begin an Academy in Missouri and Virginia. The Urban Academy is a
two-year training process. Some conferences are however opting for the newly
developed one-day training sessions on the same seven goals.
Absolutely! In the Minnesota Conference training, we had 32
churches represented. Each of those churches received tangible benefits, and
we’re still seeing different understandings of the Academy bubbling out from
1997 to 2002. We try to communicate the fact that the local churches must be
connected to their community. Training is centered on the theology of "loving
thy neighbor as thyself," and working within one’s own community. We also
emphasize the importance of our local, urban congregations accompanying the poor
and the marginalized. We’re suggesting that our congregations invite the poor
in, and even give away their churches to the community.
Exactly! We try to highlight model ministries, and have those
ministers tell their stories as part of this training. We also try to connect
churches with city organizations and agencies. We invite the City Planning
Commissioners Office to join us, the Department of Health and Human Services, as
well as the Board of Education. These important community representatives come
into our settings and gain an understanding of local church needs and resources
as well. I’m concerned at how we continue to be often be "lone rangers" out in
the field, not connecting and partnering with all the resources available and
not discovering and working with many natural assets. As churches discover wider
resources, they are no longer coming to our Urban Office for financial help.
Prior to the development of our plan and initiative, we tended
to be reactive in our work. Having this initiative in place allows us to be
proactive in what we do on behalf of urban ministries. A four-year strategic
plan for our office allows us to stay focused, on both our plan and initiative,
and accomplish more.
I can tap into resources from other program units at the
Board. For instance, if congregations are engaged in programs for Welfare
Reform, for Substance Abuse and Related Violence, for Women and Children;
periodic funding is available in Homelessness, Justice Ministries and Community
Organizing within other related units.
If I am not involved in a major national conference, I rarely
have the opportunity to talk with local churches. I don’t have easy access to
them. There are several thousand urban churches in our denomination. The way we
get information to the local churches is through our jurisdictional networks.
There are five jurisdictions in the United Methodist Church, and I meet with
representatives from those jurisdictions once, maybe twice each year, listening
to them as they tell me their critical issues and the various resources that are
needed. I then advocate for, and resource and fund their needs.
Since I started meeting with our five jurisdictions, I am now assisting them in
their efforts to provide a variety of training opportunities within their own
regional areas. I provide training, consultations, resources and information to
the jurisdictional networks, which they tack back to persons representing the
conference council directors, district superintendents, the episcopacy, and all
levels of the church including local pastors. That’s the most effective way we
get information out to many of our United Methodist churches and community
organizations.
When I do consultations around the country, one of the first
things I provide people with is demographics, so that they have an understanding
of the racial ethnic make-up of their community. Our bishops and district
superintendents must have this information and be sensitive to their changing
communities, and be able to make pastoral appointments reflecting particular
community make-ups. On the down side, often we don’t have bilingual pastors to
lead our urban churches in changing Hispanic and Asian neighborhoods.
And then there’s a whole issue around leadership development. I have gone back
to secular models for my leadership development training module and am working
with some of the "Gurus" in leadership development. The training strives for
pastors to work in teams and not as long rangers. I want ministers to utilize
the many gifts that their parishioners bring to their ministry that together can
bring about strong, vital congregations and communities.
Contact: Diane Johnson, Executive Secretary, Office of Urban Ministries, General
Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, 475 Riverside Drive,
Suite 1551, New York, NY 10015, (212) 870-3832, dhjohnson@gbgm-umc.org
********************
The Free Methodist Church is a relatively small
denomination of some 900 churches and 74,000 members nationally, with its
historical / theological center in Midwestern Wesleyanism. Rev. Kenny Martin is
pastor of Forrestville New Vision Fellowship, a Free Methodist congregation with
a metropolitan vision for outreach in the Washington, DC area. He has previously
pastored in the inner city in St. Louis, and for several years presided over
Free Methodist Urban Ministries – the national effort of growing and enhancing
the ministry of urban congregations within the Free Methodist Church.
Yes, some people in our denomination say it started way back
in 1971 or 1972, with only about eight people who came together around a passion
for urban ministry. I believe the first urban conference was in 1972. The urban
workers came together then because the dynamics for inner city ministry differed
from the mission of the church at-large. At that time it was difficult to
network with our denomination on an understanding and call for inner city
ministry. Howard Snyder and Howard Olver were a couple of our first leaders.
Over 30 years, our Free Methodist Church has changed, but urban ministry is
still there.
We used to be somewhat a "step-child" for the denomination, with an "us and
them" relationship. One of my roles over the years has been to move away from
that understanding and help build a healthy joint for effective urban ministry.
We’ve transitioned into a position of greater accountability with our own
bishop, who in turn presented our reports to our Board of Bishops. We now have
much greater accountability, and networks for ministry have grown. That’s
exciting!
I began as director in 1999 and just recently stepped down,
serving as a pastor full-time while occupying our national urban office. We’ve
now suggested to our Board of Bishops that eventually we’re going to need
someone as a full-time director. It’s hard to be on the front lines of urban
ministry and at the same time working on the national level – raising funds and
bringing the whole urban network together. We really need someone full-time who
can handle that position.
Yes, I believe it will happen. Everybody is saying that we are
going to have to have someone as a full-time urban director in the near future.
So now that we’re working together with our bishops, that process is underway.
One of the things I’ve done is to network with other departments of our church.
For instance, with our 2002 Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Urban Ministries
networked with the World Ministries Center to build further relationships. It
was a great opportunity for Urban Ministries to bring some excellent speakers to
entire Conference.
Coming from the grassroots, we’ve seen people with a passion
and call for the city. When I began ministry in St. Louis, I didn’t know too
much about the Free Methodists. I simply said "Lord, I’m here!" But there was a
bigger picture, which was the Free Methodist Church as a whole. As I began
ministry, we started building relationships with other churches on the outskirts
of the city. We began building a bridge ministry of relationships with pastors
and congregations around the city. We had a large focus on children’s ministry,
with a number of white students coming in to our African-American community to
help in that work. One of my concerns in ministry has always been racism, and
we’re going to have to fight that through our youth.
Tell us about the growth of New Vision Fellowship in
Forrestville, Maryland, your present ministry?
When I came here three years ago, it was called Forrestville Free Methodist
Church. The pastor was white, in a predominantly African-American community. The
church was beginning to decline, and that white pastor had a passion to see the
church grow. He recommended that the conference superintendent find an
African-American leader who could lead in new growth. Since I’ve arrived we’ve
seen healthy growth and we thank God for that.
Aside from ethnic issues, we had to work on the whole mindset of the church,
which was somewhere back in the 1960s. We had to change that to make it a 21st
century church! And of course that was a process. But now, we’re ready to start
a new church, New Vision in the City. While there are many churches doing great
work in the city, we believe there are many more people that God wants us to
minister to. God’s called me to an entire urban region.
Not at all. When I began preaching this New Vision for going
into the city, we were only about 40 or 50 people. You can’t wait till you’re
100 or 200 before you try to do some great things for God.
When you talk about urban ministry, a lot of people have never
heard of us. When you come into urban and African-American communities, people
ask, "What is this? I’ve never heard of the Free Methodist Church." We’re the
new kids on the block, and we have to build community relationships. As finances
go, we have to do more, with less. I don’t want us to be extremely dependent
upon denominational money. I want to partner with people outside my
denomination, and network with others. When I was in St. Louis, we had a good
collaborative effort -- the St. Louis Clergy Alliance. You have to learn how to
work with churches of several different denominations.
As Free Methodists, we’re coming from a background of white leadership, and now
we’re moving into communities where the black Church has always been present. We
must have a teachable spirit.
Free Methodist Urban Ministries has given birth to an African-American Network.
When I first came in, there were only about five pastors nationally! Now we more
than 20 black pastors. That network has developed out of Urban Ministries. There
wasn’t the funding to do a conference of our own. So we partnered with others,
like our World Ministries Center in Indianapolis, because they have resources
and also because we needed to build relationships with them. We kept our
original focus, but we did build relationships. Now, our denomination as a whole
is talking about going to "the neighborhoods of the world." When I mentor a
young African-American man in the city, he might have a dream to touch the
world! And I want to help him with that.
On a whole, denominations understand that if they don’t go
into the city, they will probably miss a lot of people. They have to make some
changes. Our society is saying that it wants to move back into the cities.
People are tired of commuting. Wherever I go I see trends of people coming back
into our cities and buying up lots of property. The church is going to have to
think much differently about its entire role as this continues.
It’s okay to see encouragement come from the bishops and the
World Ministry Center. The next level that it has to come from is our
superintendents who have a call and vision to go back into the city. I’ve helped
establish "urban consultant teams" that will come alongside superintendents and
help them develop leaders and systems for urban ministry. It’s got to be driven
from the superintendent to the conferences. We’ve got to do this thing together
and reach every neighborhood.
Contact: Rev. Kenny Martin, Forrestville New Vision Fellowship, 2020 Ritchie
Rd., Forrestville, MD 20747, (301) 336-6570, newvision20201@hotmail.com
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