Urban Congress Will Bring Together Adventists from Metro Areas across North America
7 May 2018 | Pastors, lay leaders and institutional representatives from major metropolitan areas in North America will participate in the Urban Mission and Ministry Congress on the campus of Andrews University during the first week of September. Anyone interested is invited to attend, but pre-registration is required.
Pastor Dan Jackson, the president of the denomination’s North American Division (NAD), will address the congress on Thursday evening, September 6. The same evening, Pastor Will James from the Paradise Valley Adventist Church in San Diego will speak, sharing his experience with a refugee ministry he leads. The next morning the devotional will be presented by Pastor Todd Stout from the Church of the Advent Hope on Manhattan in New York City.
Noel Castellanos, president of the Christian Community Development Association, will speak about community organizing later on Friday morning, September 7. Erica Ford, the founder of Life Camp in New York, will address “reducing gun and gang violence” later the same morning.
Pastor Roger Hernandez, ministerial director of the Southern Union Conference, will speak Friday evening, followed by a panel on “Birthing Urban Congregations.” Panelists will include pastors Anthony Wagner Smith, Kymone Hinds and Matt Stockdale with Jose Cortez, associate secretary of the NAD Ministerial Association as moderator.
On Sabbath morning author and educator Tim Wise will speak on how to foster positive race relations and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver from Kansas City will address “establishing social justice.” The preacher for worship will be evangelist Carlton Byrd, senior pastor of the Oakwood University Church and director of the Breath of Life television ministry.
Saturday night speakers will include Dr. Peter Bath, vice president of the Kettering Health Network in Dayton (Ohio), who will address promoting health and wellness in urban areas; and Dr. Richard Perry, professor of urban ministry at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, who will speak on Christian engagement in public life.
Throughout the weekend four breakout groups will meet a number of times. Each will focus on one of these themes; underserved neighborhoods, secular culture, public life and missional challenges.
Starting on Tuesday morning, September 4, a number of seminars will be offered leading to certification in key leadership skills. Community assessment and program development, theological concepts of wholistic ministry and leadership through team development will be presented by Dr. Sung Kwon, NAD director of Adventist Community Services, on Tuesday.
Ministering and managing cross-culturally will be taught by Dr. Erich Baumgartner, professor of missiology at Andrews University, on Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon Karnik Doukmetzian, director of the legal office at the General Conference, will present a workshop on legal issues and risk management.
Fund raising and writing grant proposals will be taught on Thursday by Michael Brown. Included will be presentations on marketing, communications and managing volunteers by staff from the NAD communication department.
More information can be found online at http://www.urbanmissionandministry.com and interested people can register (402) 486-8800 or online at http://www.adventsource.org (click on “events”). If you register by June 28, the early bird rate is $79 or $35 for students.
