2014 Thriving Frequency Conference with Eric Mason, D.A. Horton, Jerome Gay and more at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA from October 17-18
Last year, some folks from Emmaus City had the privilege to spend a weekend in Philadelphia at the 2013 Thriving Summit, hosted by Epiphany Fellowship. This year was just as powerful and they added in some breakout sessions as well. And Thee Apprentice, a spoken word poet, was the MC, and Doxa, Epiphany's worship in song band, led the music. The 2014 conference as a whole proclaimed Jesus as King in cities every which way. Here are links to previous posts:
- 2014 Thriving Frequency Conference | Thee Apprentice "Who Am I?" Poem
- 2014 Thriving Frequency Conference | The Anthem by Planetshakers performed by DOXA from Epiphany Fellowship
Leadership in the City | Identifying Ideal Urban Pastors
Speaker: D.A. Horton currently serves as the National Coordinator for Urban Student Missions at NAMB. His prior work includes serving as the Executive Director of ReachLife Ministries, the non-profit ministry of Reach Records and an urban church planter and pastor in Kansas City.Text: Titus 1
Theme: A legacy urban pastor proves himself over time to be: Consistent + Courageous + Contextual + Contrite
Consistent | Titus 1:6-9: Jesus said He will never leave us nor forsake us. What He has started, He will complete. The local church is the only thing Jesus Christ guaranteed to build. In mirroring our Lord and Savior, we don't want to bring a strong start and then a quick stop. We want to bring a faithful beginning and finish strong. The work needs to begin and finish well. And your sincerity does not safeguard your people from your sinful infection. The gospel is God's pill for sinful leaders who are called to be sound in doctrine, sexually pure, and financially accountable.
- Live habitually holy (i.e. strong integrity so that charges from insiders and outsiders don't stick) | Titus 1:6a
- Have a healthy marriage (i.e. committed to wife and family and showcasing Jesus to them in word and deed) | Titus 1:6b
- Have healthy habits (i.e. becoming more like Jesus in every area of life, inside and outside the home) | Titus 1:7
- Display hospitality (i.e. make your home feel like home to others) | Titus 1:8
- Demonstrate holiness regularly (i.e. committed to spiritual disciplines and self control) | Titus 1:8
Courageous | Titus 1:9-11, 13: Before you can be a leader, you need to be a lifelong learner. Our best teachers are those who remain teachable. Even when you "lose the argument," do you present the King well? Is Jesus ultimately your reward? And as you rightly fight heresy, are you also shepherding hearts? Expose in order to protect. The work of Christ is finished and the gospel message is set. Correct, not to embarrass, but to move from danger into safety in the arms of Jesus.
- Defend against heresy (i.e. honor and uphold the Word of God for the sake of all) | Titus 1:9
Contextual | Titus 1:12-13: You can't meet the needs of people you haven't met and haven't gotten to know. A strong urban pastor needs to be an anthropologist and a sociologist. You need to jump into the rhythms of your city. Research the history of the city and re-establish holiness in its midst. Learn how to take a backseat in your preferences (i.e. styles of singing, teaching, communication, etc.) so the gospel can be heard and experienced by others.
- Be proactive in diagnosing the culture (i.e. understand where people's sinful tendencies are coming from and why) | Titus 1:10-12
- Unravel deception to see purity in Jesus' church (i.e. don't let tangents distract from the gospel mission to change individuals, families, and communities) | Titus 1:13-14
- Personify distinction from the culture (i.e. pursue the purity and love of Jesus even when it's unpopular – mortification of sin brings glorification to God) | Titus 1:15-16
Contrite | Titus 1:1-4: When you unveil the Scriptures, let them unveil your heart. We need to champion the Word of God by showing our weakness. People need to see how much we need the gospel. Your deficiency is Jesus' sufficiency.
God has both called and qualified those He has set apart to be pastors in the city. They love, sacrificing their own needs for others' needs and making them a priority. But they are not perfect, they need grace, and God's still working on them.
Leadership in the City | Being a Leader and Finding Leaders on Mission
Pastor Jerome GayVision Church | Raleigh, NC
"Calling is internal (Acts 9:1-9) and external (Acts 13:1-3) for yourself and for others. And when affirming the call of others, don't put gifting above character."
Epiphany Fellowship | South Central Los Angeles, CA
"Learn how to sit, soak, and serve before pursuing leadership. Do you have a godly sorrow when you or others are not trusting the Lord? Serving, trusting, and sacrificing should feel like life if God is preparing you to be a leader. It shouldn't feel like a novelty. Also, learn how to rest so you will learn how to trust Jesus with the work."
Pastor Leonce CrumpRenovation Church | Atlanta, GA
"Don't develop and adopt a savior complex. You can fail and not be able to solve everyone's problems. You can not be available at times. But love your people. Don't come in with a plan for people you don't know. Plant the gospel in their hearts, in their lives, in their neighborhoods, and in their city. Become an indigenous missionary to everyone."
Pastor Larry Smith Epiphany Fellowship | Philadelphia, PA
"Leaders need their community just as much as their people do. Learn how to get under indigenous leadership and get patient. Your calling needs to be tested. You need to be observed and approved by others. You will learn who you are in tension and you can grow from who you are."
Next post: 2014 Thriving Frequency Conference | Thee Apprentice "Amazing Grace" Poem
– Sully
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