2012 Urban Ministry Conference

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Where Jesus Walked: “The Word of God became flesh and dwelt with us” (John 1:14).

This session will look at the many ways in scripture Jesus touched and healed, spoke and gave new life, and set the captives free. We will also look at evidence of God doing the same things through his people today.

Presenter: Dr. David Apple

During the conference you can also participate in two of the six workshops offered. Three workshops are offered at 10:45 AM and three at 1:30 PM.

10:45 AM Workshops:

Compassion, Not Condescension: Comprehensively Engaging the Least, the Last, and the Lost with the Gospel (Matthew 15:32–39).

In this workshop we will explore the biblical view of compassion. It is expressed in many ways in our churches, such as mercy ministry and various forms of giving and serving those in need in various contexts. Yet, in our churches it can often look like condescension and not compassion. As we explore the ministry of compassion that Jesus lived, led, and loved, we will seek to discover ways in which we can move from looking down on people in need to calling them to look up to God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The goal of this workshop is to shape people who will shape ministries in churches, who will reshape how we do mercy ministry in our churches in practical ways—through a lens of recognition that we all are in need of compassion, to therefore have a compassion that reflects the compassion that we’ve received from Jesus, and an understanding of how that applies to our mission.

Presenter: Pastor Doug Logan

Experiencing God While Serving His People

Isaiah 61 states the Lord has sent us to preach good news to the poor and to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. What do prostitutes, the homeless, and people infected with HIV teach us about God’s compassion and love for the poor and marginalized? Kensington, located near the Market Frankford Line and Esperanza Health Center, is home to many who are broken, held captive to drugs and alcohol and sin. Esperanza Health Center binds the brokenhearted and not only addresses their physical needs and sense of hopelessness, but also strives to treat people from a holistic perspective providing eternal hope in Christ. This focus impacts our patient care and results in lasting mentoring relationships with staff. This workshop will examine how God’s grace transformed a broken person into one who now has the mission of working to develop rich and eternal mentoring relationships with Esperanza staff. Come and explore how God could use your brokenness to minister to others. This workshop will present practical ways of how to minister to God’s people in urban areas.

Presenter: Cassandra Jackson

Experiencing Grace: How Jesus Breaks the Patterns of Sexual and Relational Sin

This workshop will combine testimonies and biblical teaching to help attendees gain a better understanding of how the gospel addresses sexual brokenness. It will also provide a foundation for ministry so attendees are equipped to walk alongside men and women struggling with sexual and relational sin.

Presenters: David White and Ellen Dykas

1:30 PM Workshops:

Walking a Mile in the Addict’s Shoes: A Testimony of Serving at the Whosoever Gospel Mission

Not everyone serving in mercy ministries has a background of homelessness or drug addiction. Yet our ministries and churches are filled with men and women struggling to come out of lifestyles of drug addiction, homelessness, prostitution, homosexuality, and crime, just to name a few. Can I really help someone if I have never experienced these things firsthand? Absolutely! Why? Because of the grace of God. People are people and hearts are hearts. I’ve never used drugs, but my heart is amazingly similar to the heart of a drug addict. God in his grace transformed my heart through my experience serving at the Whosoever Gospel Mission, working with homeless and drug-addicted men over the past 18 years. Lord willing, attendees of this session will leave with a new, strengthened, or renewed confidence in the power of Christ and his gospel to transcend the limitations of our own personal experiences when ministering to those who on the surface seem quite a bit different than us (but who really are very much like us!).

Presenter: Heather Rice

Walking with Hagar and Her Children

The current economy, public education challenges, health care system limitations, and an entitlement attitude have opened new doors for pregnancy resource ministries in Philadelphia. Women and children are more vulnerable than ever! This workshop will help prepare you to answer the hard questions related to abortion and the value of life. Come and learn strategies of how you can minister to the underserved and partner with Alpha.

 

Presenters: Karen Hess, Kim Bennett, Sue Henderson, and Jamie Annise

When God Moves into Philadelphia

For many people, God seems distant. Some feel that he is against them. Some feel abandoned by God. How does one minister to someone who has lost hope? How does one minister in situations that are complex, where the “issues are too big for one group to solve”? How does one minister to those either ignored by the church or used by the church. In this workshop, we will look at a theological framework for ministry that moves from the programs to relationships, that takes seriously the full implications of John 20:21—“As the Father sent me, so send I you.” We will unpack the model and its implications for church outreach, for short-term missions, for community outreach, and for charity efforts. We will present a few examples on how this approach is working in the contexts of human trafficking, ministry to drug addicts and homeless, and community development.

Presenters: Rev. Súler Acosta and Rev. Gabriel Wang-Herrera