Wow! Today was incredible. There were so many speakers and workshop leaders sharing so many prophetic words that the Church of Jesus Christ needs to hear during these complex times that we live in. I was inspired, and I have so many things to share with my North Way family back in Pittsburgh and my students at Bakke Graduate University. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to attend this national CCDA conference.
This morning John Perkins and Wayne "Coach" Gordon led another Bible study. Dr. Perkins reiterated the fact that the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news. The gospel reconciles people to God and to each other. Both Dr. Perkins and Coach shared about the cult of personality in the modern evangelical church and the difficulty of succession planning. Coach shared a story about a man that he had invested deeply in over a period of many years, and that person, Daryl, ended up dying from a heart attack at the age of 49. The painful situation seemed to contradict God's plans for succession that had been placed in the hearts of the Lawndale community in Chicago. Why would God take somebody so young from a key leadership role?
I have to admit that I'm having many of the same questions about the death of Pastor Freedom Blackwell in Pittsburgh. Why did he have to leave us in his prime? What about the ministries in Homewood and at North Way that God had called him to? Freedom and I had talked many times about writing books together about urban ministry and reconciliation. What about all of those hopes and dreams now? As Coach shared about the loss of his friend, I could relate. Dr. Perkins shared about the death of his son and other people that he had tried to "raise up" as leaders and the disappointment that comes with plans not working out. Coach listed Proverbs 3:5-6 as a passage of scripture that applies to situations where we just don't know what God is up to. We have to continue to keep the faith and move forward even when we don't know the answers to difficult questions in life. We have to get down on our knees before the Lord and seek God's guidance. Godly leaders trust in the Lord, not on our own understanding.
Wayne Gordon and John Perkins signed a book for me during one of the breaks:
Today's speakers included Ben Lowe, Andy Bales, Ian Danley, Ched Myers, and Efrem Smith. All of the speakers were encouraging. I'm going to have to purchase Ian Danley's and Efrem Smith's talks. They were so inspirational when it comes to equipping people who are serving marginalized people in urban places. Ian Danley described growing up as a kid whose parents were engaged in the transformational work of incarnational ministry. I couldn't help but think about my own daughters, Sierra and Kyra, as he was speaking. He strongly encouraged parents to relocate to vulnerable urban neighborhoods to raise their kids because it is a great gift to children. He also encouraged leaders to engage at the systemic levels of justice. Personal relationships are helpful, but it's so important to advocate at the systemic level where transformation is needed.
Efrem Smith spoke on the letter to Philemon in the New Testament. He utilized his speaking opportunity to challenge so many people to move out of our comfort zones in order to truly go about the work of transformational urban ministry. We should all be trying to work ourselves out of jobs in order to be replaced by the people that we are currently serving. He challenged us to behave as Paul did in his letter to Philemon... empowering people who have been oppressed and enslaved. He gave a prophetic call for leaders doing Christian community development to raise up marginalized people who will eventually replace them. He challenged leaders to have thick skin when it comes to matters of reconciliation and empowering the poor. He said, "We must passionately believe in the transformed life. We've got to be careful that we don't train up timid or tame people due to our behaviors as leaders keeping people in lower places."
I am so thankful that I attended this CCDA conference. There were many other side conversations in addition to the main content of the conference that deeply impacted me this week. It's been a good time away, but I am so ready to get back to Pittsburgh to pass along what I have learned this week. I know that God is going to do amazing things through this time that I've had here in Los Angeles. Just one more day and I'll be back in the 'Burgh.
This morning John Perkins and Wayne "Coach" Gordon led another Bible study. Dr. Perkins reiterated the fact that the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news. The gospel reconciles people to God and to each other. Both Dr. Perkins and Coach shared about the cult of personality in the modern evangelical church and the difficulty of succession planning. Coach shared a story about a man that he had invested deeply in over a period of many years, and that person, Daryl, ended up dying from a heart attack at the age of 49. The painful situation seemed to contradict God's plans for succession that had been placed in the hearts of the Lawndale community in Chicago. Why would God take somebody so young from a key leadership role?
I have to admit that I'm having many of the same questions about the death of Pastor Freedom Blackwell in Pittsburgh. Why did he have to leave us in his prime? What about the ministries in Homewood and at North Way that God had called him to? Freedom and I had talked many times about writing books together about urban ministry and reconciliation. What about all of those hopes and dreams now? As Coach shared about the loss of his friend, I could relate. Dr. Perkins shared about the death of his son and other people that he had tried to "raise up" as leaders and the disappointment that comes with plans not working out. Coach listed Proverbs 3:5-6 as a passage of scripture that applies to situations where we just don't know what God is up to. We have to continue to keep the faith and move forward even when we don't know the answers to difficult questions in life. We have to get down on our knees before the Lord and seek God's guidance. Godly leaders trust in the Lord, not on our own understanding.
Wayne Gordon and John Perkins signed a book for me during one of the breaks:
Today's speakers included Ben Lowe, Andy Bales, Ian Danley, Ched Myers, and Efrem Smith. All of the speakers were encouraging. I'm going to have to purchase Ian Danley's and Efrem Smith's talks. They were so inspirational when it comes to equipping people who are serving marginalized people in urban places. Ian Danley described growing up as a kid whose parents were engaged in the transformational work of incarnational ministry. I couldn't help but think about my own daughters, Sierra and Kyra, as he was speaking. He strongly encouraged parents to relocate to vulnerable urban neighborhoods to raise their kids because it is a great gift to children. He also encouraged leaders to engage at the systemic levels of justice. Personal relationships are helpful, but it's so important to advocate at the systemic level where transformation is needed.
Efrem Smith spoke on the letter to Philemon in the New Testament. He utilized his speaking opportunity to challenge so many people to move out of our comfort zones in order to truly go about the work of transformational urban ministry. We should all be trying to work ourselves out of jobs in order to be replaced by the people that we are currently serving. He challenged us to behave as Paul did in his letter to Philemon... empowering people who have been oppressed and enslaved. He gave a prophetic call for leaders doing Christian community development to raise up marginalized people who will eventually replace them. He challenged leaders to have thick skin when it comes to matters of reconciliation and empowering the poor. He said, "We must passionately believe in the transformed life. We've got to be careful that we don't train up timid or tame people due to our behaviors as leaders keeping people in lower places."
I am so thankful that I attended this CCDA conference. There were many other side conversations in addition to the main content of the conference that deeply impacted me this week. It's been a good time away, but I am so ready to get back to Pittsburgh to pass along what I have learned this week. I know that God is going to do amazing things through this time that I've had here in Los Angeles. Just one more day and I'll be back in the 'Burgh.
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