Wespath Institutional Investments’ Post

How do you reach out to your city with the Love of Christ? YOU NEED A STAIR STEP APPROACH TO SHOWING AND SHARING THE GOSPEL: Overview: The challenges that cities face… racial tension, economic inequities, food disparities, transportation challenges, drug abuse, health problems, increasing crime rates, gangs, etc… Can only be solved by churches, not for profits, and students working together to SHOW and SHARE the good news of Jesus. Because only the Gospel changes hearts and minds! The Gospel is the only way to transform a person, a family, a community, a town, a city, a nation. John Stott put it this way- “Evangelism is the major instrument of social change. For the gospel changes people and changed people can change society.” True lasting transformation will only occur when the Gospel is prioritized and connected to the work. THREE STEP STRATEGY: o  Hand Out: Necessities of life… food, clothing, shelter o  Hand Up: Change the thinking through education and life skills training o  Handshake: Long term life mentoring and guidance through faith-based partners Goals: • No child goes home on the weekend “food insecure” • 50 churches working together to show and share the Gospel • 250 classes taught throughout the city (relational bridges) • Thousands of students being trained in the class and in real world experience to show and share the Good News • Every school is adopted by several churches • Every school has reading mentors & lunch buddies • 20 Red Trucks going to food deserts every weekend • 500 Inner City Kids going to camp each summer https://lnkd.in/eefUKJuS

Here are five things you may not know about Juneteenth:1. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865 when thousands of enslaved people in Texas were finally ordered free – nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in the U.S.2.  In 1979, Texas became the first state to officially recognize Juneteenth as a day of observance. The day was recognized nationally in 2021.3.  Juneteenth celebrations include community gatherings, educational events, music and parades that take place across the country, with the longest history of celebrations taking place in Texas and other states in the Southwest and Midwest.4.  The Juneteenth Flag of Freedom features a half red and half blue design with a white bursting star in the middle, representing freedom from slavery. Every year, a Juneteenth flag raising ceremony takes place in Galveston, where the news of emancipation was first delivered in Texas.5.  Juneteenth has also been known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day and Independence Day. The first celebrations took place in Texas 1866, before spreading to other states(Excerpt from about.ups.com)

The church has a unique opportunity to reach out to fathers in their community. In order for families to thrive, dads need to be equipped, encouraged, freed from addiction, and mentored along the way. Considering how to better serve dads this Fathers’ Day? Here are three tips and three ready-to-go programs recommended by seasoned leaders: • Start with your sphere: Begin with your current connections. Men’s ministry is all about relationships, so don’t try to build a new program from the ground up. Invite the men already in your sphere of influence, and eventually, they will invite their friends as well. • Choose the right leader: Wait for a volunteer or staff member who is truly passionate about serving fathers. Then, equip him with everything he needs. • Set fathers up for success: Try to build your initial events around activities rather than conversation. When fathers feel successful, they are more likely to come back. Read more at gotc.us/fathers.

THE TWO THINGS YOUNG GROWING CHURCHES GET RIGHT 👏 Young churches that grow the fastest often share two key traits. And both of them have to do with being bold and open to change. 👉First, these churches are outward-focused. They put a huge emphasis on reaching new people beyond the church walls. It’s not that they ignore discipleship. They know new believers need growth and support. But they’re biased toward bringing people in because when you’re starting out, you need a foundation, a community, and even the practical aspect of funding the ministry. 👉Second, newer churches are more willing to take risks. They’re ready to change, try new things, fail, and try again. When you’re small and just starting, there’s an urgency that pushes innovation. As churches grow and mature, they might lose some of that willingness. It’s not necessarily about becoming comfortable. It’s just that the push to innovate may no longer feel as pressing as it did in the beginning. But the healthy, lasting churches? They keep asking, "What’s our next bold move?" They don’t rely only on past successes. They keep looking for something new to try, even if it might fail. Every church, no matter its size or age, needs one bold move ahead of it. For young churches, it’s getting established and reaching new people. But for older churches, it’s about not letting familiarity get in the way of future growth. #churchleadership #churchlife #pastors

Want to grow your church & build a community that lasts? The secret: build strong relationships with your community. This means: 1) Go beyond Sunday services 2) Engage with the community 3) Attend local events 4) Partner with other Christian organizations 5) Host events at your Church 6) Ask for feedback Community relationships take time, but it's worth it. By building relationships outside the Church walls, you can show your community that you're more than a place people go to worship. You're a community partner. You're a resource. Try out these tips and watch your Church grow beyond your expectations.

After researching over 30 church Easter services this weekend, I've put together a few observations to share as I prepare a larger report out for our network, here are a few findings: - Despite inspiring messages, most churches struggle to engage people effectively. Yet, two churches achieved remarkable involvement by tweaking their approach (over 80% of their congregations), showcasing the power of innovation. - Outdated models persist in some churches, perpetuating stagnant results. True transformation requires bold action and openness to new paradigms. (treating everyone the same - including those choosing to engage through different modalities is required)! - Most churches inadvertently reinforce consumer Christianity by neglecting to adapt. Contribution Christianity, on the other hand, empowers individuals to ignite change by leveraging their unique gifts. - Feedback loops often focus on metrics like attendance, overlooking real success metrics: transformed lives and impactful missions. (only 2 of 30 churches closed the loop with the congregants). - Despite the longing for connection, few churches successfully foster genuine connections. (3 of 30 churches made steps to solve this!) It's time to embrace innovation and unleash our collective potential. Let's shift from mere attendance to impactful involvement, transform lives, and shape a better world. If you're interested in learning more about innovative approaches within our network of churches, let's chat!

Taking EDI we discussed that the ultimate goal of all this is allyship. Allyship is based upon four main focuses: yielding, listening, learning, and action. It is standing up for someone that may not have a voice. Truth and Reconciliation day and the orange shirt is part of allyship. Think of the poem by Martin Niemoller: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. It is why allyship is important. A good example of allyship is Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy. So during today think about all those affected by the residential schools. This can be generational with people having parents or grandparents affected by it. Even today there are many Jews that were affected by the Holocaust through their families. For some this may be uncomfortable but we do it so we will not repeat it again.

What are the four principles the Sisters live by? Sister Jill Reuber shines a light on each principle through our vocations blog, starting with the importance of valuing and fostering community. “Our community adapts and evolves as the world changes, so that we can continue to seek God in this time and place, and to minister to His people where they are today. We laugh together, learn together, love together, grieve together and grow together, united by God’s presence in our hearts and lives.” Read more at https://lnkd.in/gsys5T26

What’s in your hands? This is where we will always start. ARK base work with churches to identify underused spaces and link them with members of your community who have a vision for impact driven activity. What’s in your hands and who in your community has a vision to bring it to life?