It was another intense day at MDGC in New York. The day started with speakers from Australia, South Africa, China, and concluded with speakers from several cities throughout the United States. Topics included empowering women in the workplace, collaboration across sectors in cities, church planting in cities where Christians are persecuted, race and class reconciliation, research for ministry in cities, and leadership principles.
One of the most powerful talks to me came from a pastor in Charlotte, Claude Alexander. He described the many ways that his city is healthy, and he also described that racial tension that was always under the surface, not being dealt with, that finally boiled over resulting in recent protests in that city. He described the reconciling power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how followers of Christ can lead the way in cities like Charlotte that are currently experiencing so much tension between people of different ethnicities and cultures. My prayer is that the leaders in attendance here at Movement Day will take up that charge. The work is so important. I'm praying that God will continue to work toward our church in Pittsburgh to work toward racial reconciliation, empowered to do so by the Holy Spirit.
Here are some more of our adventures from today:
The Convention Center in New York where Movement Day is being held is a great space to collaborate with so many different leaders. I love the diversity that is present here with our group which represents leaders from 95 different countries. I bumped into friends from India and the Philippines today. It's a small world!
Alan Platt from South Africa shared about the importance of collaboration and gospel movements in cities that are recovering from painful situations like apartheid. The church can have such a significant impact in places that have experienced loss, brokenness and pain.
These researchers from Germany, South Africa, and the U.S. shared about the importance of doing effective research with people in urban environments. Too often researches actually cause harm when research in cities is down irresponsibly. These practitioners presented some effective research models to our group.
I'm enjoying the time that I'm getting to spend in this world class city with Pastor Randy. We had a fun time exploring Times Square tonight. Such an amazing place!
We have one more full day of learning and leading tomorrow, and then we'll be heading back to Pittsburgh. We're excited to build capacity at North Way with what we're learning, and we're also looking forward to participating more in the transformational work that is happening in so many different places in Pittsburgh.
One of the most powerful talks to me came from a pastor in Charlotte, Claude Alexander. He described the many ways that his city is healthy, and he also described that racial tension that was always under the surface, not being dealt with, that finally boiled over resulting in recent protests in that city. He described the reconciling power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how followers of Christ can lead the way in cities like Charlotte that are currently experiencing so much tension between people of different ethnicities and cultures. My prayer is that the leaders in attendance here at Movement Day will take up that charge. The work is so important. I'm praying that God will continue to work toward our church in Pittsburgh to work toward racial reconciliation, empowered to do so by the Holy Spirit.
Here are some more of our adventures from today:
The Convention Center in New York where Movement Day is being held is a great space to collaborate with so many different leaders. I love the diversity that is present here with our group which represents leaders from 95 different countries. I bumped into friends from India and the Philippines today. It's a small world!
Alan Platt from South Africa shared about the importance of collaboration and gospel movements in cities that are recovering from painful situations like apartheid. The church can have such a significant impact in places that have experienced loss, brokenness and pain.
These researchers from Germany, South Africa, and the U.S. shared about the importance of doing effective research with people in urban environments. Too often researches actually cause harm when research in cities is down irresponsibly. These practitioners presented some effective research models to our group.
I'm enjoying the time that I'm getting to spend in this world class city with Pastor Randy. We had a fun time exploring Times Square tonight. Such an amazing place!
We have one more full day of learning and leading tomorrow, and then we'll be heading back to Pittsburgh. We're excited to build capacity at North Way with what we're learning, and we're also looking forward to participating more in the transformational work that is happening in so many different places in Pittsburgh.
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