Multiethnic Church Planting Training Comes to the Lone Star State
by Steve Horswill-Johnston* & Vance Morton**A special two-day event designed to help congregations learn more about how to become successful multicultural places of worship and assist church planters in establishing new multiethnic churches is coming to San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 25-26. The Multiethnic Church Planting Training is hosted by New Church Starts (Path 1), a division of Discipleship Ministries and is aimed at church planters, potential planters, church leaders in transitioning neighborhoods and conference leaders.
During the two-day event, Dr. Mark DeYmaz (Mosaic Church) and Rev. Chip Freed (Garfield Memorial UMC) will discuss two possible planting models for pastors interested in engaging diverse communities. A. Brian Leander from Adelphi University will also share his experiences preparing leaders for cross-cultural ministry. Click here for more on all of the featured presenters.
“There is a huge demographic shift in the United States with ethnic groups becoming a larger and larger part of our nation, and we’re seeing some churches become more multiethnic,” said Samuel Rodriguez, Director of Hispanic, Latino and Multiethnic New Church Starts at Discipleship Ministries. “We realized that we weren't providing any kind of training for United Methodist Churches in the area of multiethnic ministries.”
In addition to the training, the event is an opportunity for networking and focused conversation for anyone interested or involved in multiethnic church planting.
“This will be a great resource for United Methodist Churches that are looking at becoming more ethnically diverse as a viable strategy to involve more people in the church,” Rodriquez said.
Registration for event is $250 and includes lunch for both days. The training event will be held at the Wyndham San Antonio Riverwalk hotel. Participants will need to book their room(s) with the hotel directly as the hotel is offering special rates through Feb. 1. Call 1-866-764-8536 to book your room or you may book online. Be sure and tell the hotel you are attending the GBOD 2015 Multiethnic Church Planting Training Event. For more information and/or to register for the event, click here.
“There is a huge demographic shift in the United States with ethnic groups becoming a larger and larger part of our nation, and we’re seeing some churches become more multiethnic,” said Samuel Rodriguez, Director of Hispanic, Latino and Multiethnic New Church Starts at Discipleship Ministries. “We realized that we weren't providing any kind of training for United Methodist Churches in the area of multiethnic ministries.”
In addition to the training, the event is an opportunity for networking and focused conversation for anyone interested or involved in multiethnic church planting.
“This will be a great resource for United Methodist Churches that are looking at becoming more ethnically diverse as a viable strategy to involve more people in the church,” Rodriquez said.
Registration for event is $250 and includes lunch for both days. The training event will be held at the Wyndham San Antonio Riverwalk hotel. Participants will need to book their room(s) with the hotel directly as the hotel is offering special rates through Feb. 1. Call 1-866-764-8536 to book your room or you may book online. Be sure and tell the hotel you are attending the GBOD 2015 Multiethnic Church Planting Training Event. For more information and/or to register for the event, click here.
*Steve is the executive director of Communications for GBOD Discipleship Ministries. stevehj@gbod.org
**Vance is the director of Communications & IT for the CTC. vance@ctcumc.org