Yearly Archives: 2016 ( Page 2 )

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Living with Conviction in a Pluralistic World

As we are on the brink of one of the most controversial Presidential elections in recent history, we are seeing more and more division among Americans. In his Q Commons Minneapolis talk, Rob Vischer, Dean of the University of St. Thomas School of Law remarks on how the remedy for our polarized political culture is the restoration of relationships. Vischer encourages civil friendships that are lived out in a spirit of solidarity with one another; emphasizing that our political life is shaped not primarily by election results, but by the attitudes of citizens.
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Journey to Harmony Leadership Reflection

We have a dream… that pastors of the Twin Cities would pursue racial harmony by exploring in depth our troubled past so we can move forward and fulfill our calling to oneness as the Body of Christ. Transform Minnesota is launching its first-ever Sankofa Journey to Harmony visiting Civil Rights sites in February 2017. Rev. Terrance Rollerson and Pastor Andy Gray, pastors at the The Urban Refuge Church in Minneapolis will be leading the Sankofa Journey to Harmony. Terrance and Andy went on the journey together in 2012 and 2016. Read about how this spiritual journey impacted their friendship and relationship as an African American man and White man in ministry together. Sankofa is an intentionally multi-ethnic, experiential, and spiritual journey that will take us to important places and moments in the Civil Rights movement where together we’ll mourn, learn, understand, repent, pray, and find hope to build bridges and stand in the gap as peacemakers.
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Holy Sexuality: A Christian Response with Dr. Christopher Yuan

With his powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness, grace and ability to personally transform his life, Dr. Christopher Yuan shared with more than 300 people at Hope Community Church on how his life experience and spiritual transformation taught him how Christians need to respond to homosexuality in a compassionate, redemptive manner. Watch the videos of Dr. Yuan's testimony, and his talk on how Christians should respond to homosexuality. Also read Dr. Yuan's practical suggestions on how to minister to Christians with homosexual feelings & how to share Christ with those in the gay community.
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Pastor’s Column: Three Truths As I Stare At My Ballot

As we approach the 2016 Presidential election, we wanted to know how pastors are navigating the political season. Dr. Matthew St. John, lead pastor of New Hope Church in New Hope writes about three truths he knows this election season: "God is in charge, and His say is final. I must respond to what my Spirit-shaped conscience dictates, and offer charity to those whose choices differ from mine. I must honor the candidate that is victorious, if only because my Lord, in His written revelation, has commanded me to do so."
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Pulse Details Plans to Fill US Bank Stadium for Worship Events

in News. Posted October 3, 2016
Pulse has released new details about their upcoming UNITE worship events at US Bank Stadium. UNITE is gathering all churches, generations, and denominations together for two events that will have significant impact on the Twin Cities. The hope and prayer for PULSE’s two events is for revival and evangelism in America and in the Twin Cities. Nick Hall of Pulse and Rob Ketterling of River Valley Church liken the weekend of events in May to the Billy Graham Crusades and Promise Keepers held at the Metrodome.
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Three Local Voices are “Engaging the Divide” at Q Commons Oct. 13

in News. Posted October 3, 2016
Transform Minnesota is presenting Q Commons on Thursday October 13 at City Church in Minneapolis. The topic this session is “Engaging the Divide,” and will feature three local speakers who will discuss practical lessons for living in a pluralistic society. Each of these local speakers: Don Samuels, Rob Vischer, and Meghann Kantke will discuss pluralism: how Christians seek to live out their Christian values in a secular society.
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Pastor’s Column: Bible Should Influence Vote More Than Party

As we approach the 2016 Presidential election, we wanted to know how pastors are navigating the political season. Carl Nelson, president and CEO of Transform Minnesota writes about his observations this election season; including the political diversity of American evangelicalism, and how he believes a Biblically-informed policy platform will be in conflict with both major parties. As God’s people, Carl believes we are called to be servants, not masters, and trust that the renewal of our culture is a result of transformed hearts, not elected officials.
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The Best Way to Plant Indigenous Churches Is to Begin that Way

On September 8, Jean Johnson spoke at TCAMP on Avoiding Dependency in Missions. She wrote this article on a similar topic for the Fall 2016 Mission Frontiers issue. She writes the best way to plant indigenous churches and movements is to begin that way. Then, they don’t have to discover mid-stream that it is too late — that an unhealthy mindset has settled in like cement. Keep in mind that in every apple, there is an orchard. In every people group, an Acts 2-type church is already there; we just need to believe it.
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Urban Church Planting: Rev. Efrem Smith

For our Urban Church Planting blog series, we are posting a recent blog Rev. Efrem Smith, President and CEO of World Impact wrote about being thick-skinned urban missionaries. He writes about how being thick-skinned for the Kingdom of God can only come about through intimacy with God, identity in Christ, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Only out of the overflow of this dynamic relationship can urban missionaries be used to empower the poor, strengthen the church, and transform communities.
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Pastor’s Column: Talking Politics vs. politics in Church

As we approach the 2016 Presidential election, we wanted to know how pastors are navigating the political season. Pastor Jeff Heidkamp, co-lead pastor of Mercy Vineyard Church writes about why he doesn’t think the Bible has anything to say about American “uppercase P” Politics, but has a lot to say about “lowercase p” politics. Pastor Jeff shares when he believes it is appropriate for a pastor to become partisan, and a practice he implements that helps him to gain empathy for those who see the world differently than he does.
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