When it comes to church, we have a lot of negative tapes playing in our heads: “Church is judgmental.”“Church is hypocritical.”“They think they’re better than everyone else.” It’s time for restoration. Time to rewind the tape. New Church Ministry is dedicated to fostering faithful communities marked by deep Christian spirituality and a passion for God’s love … Continue reading Restore and Rewind
Leadership Academy: Changing the architecture of the church through DisciplesNEXT
KANSAS CITY, MO – Iconic North American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s “church of the future” proved a fitting setting to introduce DisciplesNEXT, a new framework for church growth in a pandemic-informed ministry context. The three-day Leadership Academy, a hybrid event held at Kansas City, MO’s historic Community Christian Church in late October, drew more than 50 participants, including clergy, laity, and … Continue reading Leadership Academy: Changing the architecture of the church through DisciplesNEXT
Asian Heritage Month: Of memory, belonging, and personhood
This past weekend, my parents visited me for Mother’s Day. I live in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighborhood, and while we were exploring its local restaurants and shops, we came across a mural depicting Portuguese “cleaning ladies” and their Cleaners’ Action movement from the 1970s-80s. Now what does this have to do with Asian Heritage Month (also known as … Continue reading Asian Heritage Month: Of memory, belonging, and personhood
When persistence isn’t enough
With the recent rollback of reproductive rights in the United States and the passing of anti-trans and anti-drag bills, honoring women this March is a bittersweet affair.Truth be told, the way we observe Women’s History Month has always troubled me. We honor individuals who are “firsts” in their field, ostensibly to show how far we’ve come as … Continue reading When persistence isn’t enough
There is a Balm in Chicago
Rebecca Anderson grew up Evangelical, but as a young adult, she didn’t consider herself a religious person. That didn’t mean she didn’t dip her toes in the waters of different communities of faith. And then she attended a local church in Boston at the suggestion of a fellow non-religious friend, which changed her life.