Blog Series

Pastor’s Column: Evangelism Through Community, Coffee and Badminton

For our Pastor's Column series on evangelism, Pastor Brian Gingrich of Hillside Church in Bloomington writes about how community is inextricably related to their evangelistic endeavors; how a context is created that is both nonthreatening and mutually interesting. Find out how coffee and badminton have cultivated a culture of outreach and authentic relationship-building. And Pastor Brian shares some important lessons he's learned about evangelism and Millennials.
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Journey to Harmony: Rev. Dr. Charles L. Gill, Pilgrim Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Charles Gill reflects on his experience on the Sankofa journey, and how this trip violated the sanctity of his safe space. He writes about the residue of pain, humiliation, and shame in the African American experience, that he found he cannot wash off. And how as the trip progressed, Rev. Gill found many of those emotions began to leak out from under the locked door of his soul. Read what Rev. Gill is doing and what he desires for next steps as a result of this trip. In February, 30 Twin Cities Pastors went on a Journey to Harmony, touring Civil Rights Sites in the South. A handful of these participants wrote up their reflections to share with the Body of Christ in Minnesota.
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Journey to Harmony: Pastor Kevin Walton, Bethany Baptist Church

Read Pastor Kevin Walton of Bethany Baptist Church's experience as he confronts the horrific past and misery inflicted on African Americans by American white society, and the struggles he had identifying as a white man, as a participant and beneficiary of a historically unjust society. Yet, Pastor Walton explains how he was encouraged by how God sustained His people in the face of evil, and the healing and transformative reconciliation offered at the cross of Christ. In February, 30 Twin Cities Pastors went on a Journey to Harmony, touring Civil Rights Sites in the South. A handful of these participants wrote up their reflections to share with the Body of Christ in Minnesota.
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Journey to Harmony Reflection: Dr. Charles Morgan, Union Gospel Mission

Read Dr. Charles P. Morgan's, CEO of Union Gospel Mission, experience on this Journey to Harmony as he discovers more about the African American struggle for freedom and the equality that still doesn't exist in today's America, and how the conversation about racial equality and justice still lacks the proper vernacular, clarity and moral conviction. Yet, Dr. Morgan explains how he came away from this journey more hopeful than ever. In February, 30 Twin Cities Pastors went on a Journey to Harmony, touring Civil Rights Sites in the South. A handful of these participants wrote up their reflections to share with the Body of Christ in Minnesota.
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Journey to Harmony Reflection: Pastor John Sommerville, City Church

Read Pastor John Sommerville's experience on Journey to Harmony of being humbled by courage, humbled by shame, and finding hope in the grace of God that empowers us to work for harmony within the Church. This journey offered Pastor John the opportunity to learn, understand, mourn, repent and pray, as we ask God to help build bridges and speak up for healing and harmony within the church. In February, 30 Twin Cities Pastors went on a Journey to Harmony, touring Civil Rights Sites in the South. A handful of these participants wrote up their reflections to share with the Body of Christ in Minnesota.
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Journey to Harmony Reflection: Pastor Andrew Gross, Bethel Twin Cities

Read Pastor Andrew Gross' experience on Journey to Harmony of being undone and put back together on this pilgrimage. And how he tried to humbly open his hands and invite God to help him learn and absorb whatever it was God desired for him. In February, 30 Twin Cities Pastors went on a Journey to Harmony, touring Civil Rights Sites in the South. A handful of these participants wrote up their reflections to share with the Body of Christ in Minnesota.
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Journey to Harmony Reflection: Ashley Barnd, Evergreen Church – Bloomington

Read Ashley Barnd's experience on this Journey to Harmony as a biracial women who is in ministry in Bloomington with her husband. Ashley writes on having a deep visceral connection with the people who came before her and how they inspire her to keep pressing ahead regardless of the enormity of the task. In February, 30 Twin Cities Pastors went on a Journey to Harmony, touring Civil Rights Sites in the South. A handful of these participants wrote up their reflections to share with the Body of Christ in Minnesota.
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Graceful Convictions: Living Well with One Another When We Disagree

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 her Q Commons Minneapolis talk Meghann Kantke, an attorney at Gray Plant Mooty in Minneapolis remarks on the value of expressing kindness and graciousness, while staying true to our convictions. She taught how the Jesus way is grace and truth – of real kindness and honest humility without compromising our convictions. We have to believe that everyone - even people we disagree with – are worthy of kindness and that they have something to teach us.
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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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