Watch This! If This Does Not Inspire You… check You Pulse! LOL

There are Next Generation Leaders ready to go to Bible college and Seminary! They are out there. They just need to know there’s opportunity at our bible colleges and seminaries, and bible college scholarships with their names on it.

Let’s continue to do all that we can, with all that we have, right where we are to provide opportunities to Next Generation Leaders Now!

Dream Of Destiny is proud to be a part of the Mosaix Global Network. Mosaix is a national network of local church pastors and planters, researchers, educators and ministry leaders alike that exists to catalyze the growing movement toward multi-ethnic/economically diverse churches throughout North America and beyond by casting vision, connecting individuals of like-mind, conferencing and coaching.

I had a chance to catch up with Mosaix founder, Mark DeYmaz (the author of Building a Healthy Multi Ethnic Church, featured on DreamOfDestiny.com a few months ago) at the Exponential conference last month (video interview coming soon).  Along with being a best selling author Mark pastors a multi-ethnic church in Arkanas and has a passion for churches to reflect the landscape of heaven here on earth, now!

Four Words from Granger Community on Vimeo.

I came across the video on Tim Stevens blog LeadingSmart.com. It’s kind of long (11 minutes… I know I am a product of our ADD media quick society), but it is definitely thought provoking. I am interested to know what you think.

Please comment below.

“…The racial problem has been the unresolved dilemma in America. It has gone on since its inception because its roots have not been addressed by the people who are most qualified to address it: The Church!” (Dr. Tony Evans)

When I saw this video I knew I had to share it with the Dream Of Destiny community.  Many of you know who Dr. Tony Evans is.  Several of you may have even seen this video before. It was produced by a very cool para-church ministry called “I Am Second.”

What I found powerful about this short video was Dr. Evans’ first story of being raised in Baltimore during a time of racial strife and tension.  What resonated with me was how “common” his story is among our African American pastors and leaders in our brotherhood.  Many, if not the majority of them over 50 years of age, still love God, but have lost hope in ever seeing change in the association of Independent churches, and Churches of Christ movement.

Many of them carry, not only the everyday burdens and challenges associated with leading small local churches that fight to keep their doors opens from year to year, but also the hollowing effect of their voices not being heard by fellow brothers that make up the NACC. To compound matters even more, if the truth be told, many of them wrestle with the feelings of inadequacy and insecurities that linger like battle scars from past fights and struggles that have never had the chance to properly heal.

In the spirit of illumination, I share this with you not to foster guilt or feelings of remorse by the wrongs of ancestors.  In like kind, I do not bring this to light for others to use as justification for abdicating any responsibility to continue to push forward. I shed light on this issue to provoke and encourage two regular calls to action:

1. To our Caucasian sisters and brothers in leadership; it is critical that you be intentional and proactive in reaching OUT (NOT back and down) to your fellow “minority” sisters and brothers in leadership at the local level. Even if you’ve tried in the past and found little reciprocated response, Do Not Stop!  Do not be tired in doing [this] good, because in due season your efforts will reap good fruit in time.
2. To our sisters and brothers who make up ethnic minorities in our association; it’s critical that you continue to be intentional about getting and staying involved with the convention (even though you feel that your voice has not been heard -remember, the more voices, the louder the message).  At the local level, continue to do what you can, with what you have, right where you are to connect with other pastors of independent Christian churches.  Again I encourage you, Do Not Stop!  Do not be tired in doing [this] good, because in due season your efforts will reap good fruit in time.

Why are these calls to action important for us to ALWAYS be intentional about?  Because they reflect, in how we engage one another, the very message,  we are all called to share with the rest of the world.  It is a message of new beginnings. It is a message of new identities.  It is a message of renewed hope, and freedom that is found in our new identity in Christ.   In the video above (at the 1:23 minute mark) , Dr. Evans talks about a “repositioning” that occurs when Jesus becomes first in our life.  Please go back to it now and listen, again, to what he says.

Going forward, what would our efforts truly look like if each of us truly embraced this idea that “I Am Second?”

Dream of Destiny 5 Star Initiative from Shepherd Youth on Vimeo.

I have been reading a book called Bus Ride to Justice by Fred Gray, a lawyer for Rosa Parks who was arrested on December 1st, 1955 for sitting where she was NOT supposed to sit. As you know, African Americans were supposed to sit in the back of the bus and save the seats in the front for the “white” people. When the courts finally ruled that segregation on city buses was unconstitutional, it was the one case that truly began the civil rights movement in America.

On page 97 of his book, Fred Gray writes, “A pebble cast in the segregated waters of Montgomery, Alabama, created a human rights tidal wave that changed America and eventually washed up on the shores of such far away places as the Bahamas, China, South Africa, and the Soviet Union. And it all started on a bus.”

But there is ONE GLARING problem. That tidal wave never hit the CHURCH in AMERICA.

It was in 1963, which was almost 50 years ago, that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said 11:00 a.m. is still the most segregated hour in America.  Here we are some 47 years later and that statement, even is Los Angeles, is still true. An article in the Jan. 11, 2010 issue of Time Magazine states that 93 percent of the churches in America are still primarily segregated. Less that 8 % of churches are diverse. How is this possible?

The 5 Star Initiative is simply to get churches to be more intentional about diversity…getting our churches to ACCEPT the great commission to reach “all nations.” And I know is sounds simplistic, and I am sorry if you do not agree, but if we could just start by diversifying our platform and our stages, we could see immediate change within our churches today. Finding ways to include people of color in our worship teams, in our praise teams and in our choirs—and even in those who make announcements, conduct the baptisms, and lead the congregation in prayer—it would have a HUGE ripple effect on those who are first-time visitors, those who will look to the stage and see that this is a church that accepts people from all walks of life.

I’ve seen the difference in the church I serve, and I think you’d see the difference in your church as well. It is time that the Church of 2k10 reflects the church of Revelation 7:9-10.

Watch the above video. Go to http://www.dreamofdestiny.com/ and sign up to be a part of the 5 star Initiative.

I have been following (via twitter) pastor Shaun King, of Courageous Church in Atlanta, for a few months now.  I am inspired by his story, his call, and his passion to empower others to live the courageous life.  If anyone thinks a life with Christ is supposed to be calm, tranquil, with no conflict, they have another thing coming.

In fact, I wonder sometimes, if we send the world we are evangelizing to, the wrong message. We tell people, “…oh are you hurting? …life feeling hopeless? Try Jesus, and He’ll make all your pain go away, and you’ll live happily ever after.”  No wonder many new believers feel like they’ve been bamboozled by this bait and switch theology.

Shaun is a pastor of a multi-ethnic church who’s mission is “Love God, Love People, Prove it!”  That statement is what characterizes Courageous Church.  Everyone knows about the devastation in Haiti from the earthquakes.  But it’s one thing to know about devastation; it’s another thing to decide to do what you can, with what you have, right where you are to “be” the difference in devastating circumstances.  Shaun King has taken this to a whole new level.  Leveraging the power of social networks (i.e. twitter) Shaun has done more to mobile his network than anyone I know.  Check out how he used Twitter to help Dr. Sanjay Gupta (medical journalist for CNN) get 5 neurosurgeons into Haiti when political red tape left Haiti with zero neurosurgeons available to help the people of Haiti.  Cool stuff!

Any how, that’s not what this post is about.  What I wanted to highlight here is how Courageous Church is dedicated to not just “being the church” abroad, but is just as dedicated to helping those in need, in a relational way, right where they are.  Take a look at the video above (…like you haven’t already).

What will you come up with next to mobilize your church, and your network to BE the church? Please share your stories here!

(This is a re-post from Donald Miller’s Blog)

Next week I’ll be launching a video podcast called All Things Converge in which I interview scholars and entertainers on various subjects. I’ll give you more information soon about where you can sign up for the podcast, but for now I wanted to share with you a bit of an interview I did with Dr. Henry Cloud in which he talks about New Years Resolutions.

Henry Cloud is one of my favorite writers. In this interview he reminds us that people don’t change quickly. Maturity and change take time, and in order to change we have to put ourselves into a context where change can take place. I’ll let Dr. Cloud say it better. Enjoy.

*All Things Converge is a podcast based on a DVD series called Convergence. Convergence is a DVD designed to stimulate conversations for small groups. The Podcast, however, will be free, and cover topics not covered on the DVD.Down Load File

New Years Resolutions – All Things Converge Podcast preview from All Things Converge Podcast on Vimeo.

Happy New Year!

There is something about the New Year that brings with it a renewed sense of hope and possibility.  I can not put my finger on “why” this is exactly, but I am reminded of a verse in Isaiah (Is 40:31) that reads,” but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  It would not surprise me a bit to  find out one of the reasons God created seasons was to give us physical metaphors and reminders of renewal.  His very ministry to humanity is founded on “renewal!”  If anyone is in Christ, ‘…he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17)

With each new year our Lord gives us new opportunity!  That is why I am excited personally, and that is what excites me with what God would allow us to accomplish together through Dream Of Destiny in 2010.  What we want to achieve has not been, to my knowledge, accomplished before in the history of the Stone/ Cambell, Restoration movement.

By the fall of 2011 Dream Of Destiny seeks to help at least 250 students of diverse, ethnic background attend bible college or seminary. Why students of “diversity”? For a few reasons:

Fix cost of college had increased dramatically and continue to increase every year.
The per-student cost is higher at smaller schools since the costs are distributed among fewer students.
In general, college enrollment has historically increased during a recession, until now. The tightening of credit requirement and student loans has made it very difficult for students to secure financial aid.  EVEN LESS AFRICAN AMERICAN, ASIAN, AND LATINO are enrolling in bible college.  As America continues to increase in its diversity, we MUST find a way to prepare the next generation of diverse leaders to minister to meet the needs of America.
As Europe has trended, the US is experiencing a mass secularization of general thought by the younger generations, including Christians in high school.

Relativism is in, absolutes are out.
Students are finding it less and less compelling to choose more expensive, private bible college over it’s larger, less expensive, public competitors.

While cross cultural studies and missions exist at most bible colleges, ethnic and cultural diversity in it’s student body and faculty does not.

Every year the cultural landscape on bible college campuses looses pace with the changing diverse cultural landscape of society, rendering bible college more irrelevant and outdated in the minds of students more than ever before.

Yet it’s more important than ever to help next generation leaders NOW by helping more students of diverse ethnic backgrounds attend bible college and seminary.

That’s why we are asking you to partner with Dream Of Destiny!
Dream of Destiny desires to help make attending bible college viable for more students who represent ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Dream Of Destiny is committed to doing it’s part in reversing these trends, but we need your help.

If just 250 churches within our brotherhood, each, decided to scholarship one student we reach our goal.
If just 500 ministries, out of the 5000 within our association, decided to scholarship half of one students scholarship,
we reach our goal.  While it has never been done before, this goal is very achievable.
We just have to be intentional!

Will you start off the New Year by being a Destiny Leader and help this goal happen?
Over the next 52 weeks will you be a part of making this dream come true for 250 students?
What will you do with your next 52?

Please click the link below and make a pledge to help students to bible college!
http://new.dreamofdestiny.org/donate-or-pledge/

Teamwork is the Only thing that will make this DREAM WORK!