What People are Saying about Movement Day Greater Dallas

Movement Day Greater Dallas 2015 will be January 22nd at the Kay Baily Hutchison Convention Center in Downtown Dallas – http://www.MovementDayGreaterDallas.com

“I am incredibly excited to be a part of Movement Day Greater Dallas as we rally around the gospel of Jesus Christ together to see darkness pushed back in our great city.”
Matt Chandler
Senior Teaching Pastor The Village Church

“I am honored to be part of Movement Day Greater Dallas. This is a timely gathering of serious-minded Christians who see the need for the church to engage the city and the culture. The day encourages like-minded pastors, mission agency leaders, marketplace leaders, and governmental leaders to engage each other. What we do together here will not only impact Dallas, but will create a template for other world class cities to engage the culture with the gospel.”
Dr. Jim Denison
Founder of Denison Forum on Truth and Culture

“I am elated to participate in Movement Day Greater Dallas! In order to create change in communities, it is important for individuals from diverse backgrounds and views to come together to discover, learn and share their experiences. Collaboration is critical in order to make the necessary changes for growth in our area. I look forward to seeing God’s people come together and use their faith as the foundation for building an inspired future!”
Froswa’ Booker-Drew
National Community Engagement Director US Programs, World Vision

“I’ve been a part of Movement Day NYC since its beginning and I’m convinced God is using it as a catalytic gathering and collaboration of world-changing leaders. If we are to reach the world we must reach the cities of the world and I believe Dallas has become a major global city of influence in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. I’m thrilled that Movement Day Greater Dallas is our next step toward uniting Christian leaders across all cultural domains in order to see a Gospel Movement in our city!”
Jeff Warren
Senior Pastor Park Cities Baptist Church

“I believe that Movement Day Greater Dallas is an important next step in our journey as a metropolitan faith community. I am impressed by the passion for united prayer and collaborative action.”
Pastor Jeff Jones
Senior Pastor Chase Oaks Church

“In a fast-paced world that focuses more on events with immediate results and shallow gratification, I count it a joy to have been involved in what will become a great movement of the church to impact a community for the cause of Christ and certain to reap Kingdom benefits. As churches are challenged to refocus from mundane ministry activities to having compassion and concern for ‘the least of these’ in Matthew 25, I believe that the Metroplex will see something is taking place among their midst and question, ‘What kind of a Movement is this?'”
Chris L. Simmons
Sr. Pastor Cornerstone Baptist Church, Dallas

“Movement Day Greater Dallas is an excellent opportunity to network the Christian community with City leaders to offer solutions to our city’s biggest challenges. It is about bringing the Kingdom of God very near in tangible ways. Historically, Dallas has been known to respond to the needs of her citizens, especially with regard to social and spiritual issues. Buckner International, with her rich history of serving children, seniors, and their families, is proud to be an integral part of this effort.”
Dr. Albert L. Reyes
President and CEO
Buckner International

“It is with immense optimism that I support Movement Day Greater Dallas. No one would say that our Churches have sat idly by as the moral social and spiritual fabric of our world has become stained and ragged. If we are honest, however, we will acknowledge our guilt of not working as closely together as a collective body of Christ. Movement Day Greater Dallas can serve as a galvanizing platform to begin manifesting the limitless power of Christ to empower HIS body of believers to heal HIS land, through HIS proclaimed word and our service in faith. Let us boldly gather in the name and perfect will of Christ to further ignite what our ministries are doing for all to behold HIS transforming power.”
Terry J. Flowers, Ph. D.
Executive Director
St. Philip’s School and Community Center

“I believe that Movement Day Greater Dallas is an important next step in our journey as a metropolitan faith community. I am impressed by the passion for united prayer and collaborative action.”
Pastor Jeff Jones
Senior Pastor
Chase Oaks Church

“Movement Day Greater Dallas is the most proactive conference I’ve ever experienced. It’s in the city and for the city. Not only does it gather a diversity of leaders across generations, race, and denominations, but it also convenes leaders from a diversity of occupations. Movement Day Greater Dallas puts the responsibility of city gospel transformation, not only on the Church, but Christians, clergy or lay members. I believe their empowerment of the whole Church is the missing link in a sincere, sustainable movement.”
Grant Skeldon
Founder | INITIATIVE

“Over 30 years ago, Theresa and I prayed for a great movement of God in the Dallas area as we started our ministry in Kaufman, Texas at Country Bible Church. What an honor and privilege it is to partner with area churches and business people to cooperate with God’s Spirit as He draws us together to transform Dallas for Christ.”
Chip Ingram
CEO and Teaching Pastor
Living on the Edge

“Unity in the body of Christ — it doesn’t get more powerful, and that is my favorite driving force of Movement Day.”
Bruce Kuhn
Broadway Actor and Instructor

“It is a unique moment in our city to see Christian leaders from the Church, marketplace and community to unite under one vision of seeking spiritual and social transformation in our communities. Movement Day Greater Dallas served as a catalyst to bring this movement to our city.”
Brian Carter
Senior Pastor Concord Church

“We are called to serve as God’s ambassadors on the earth. As a speaker for Movement Day, I believe this conference is a wonderful opportunity to inform, inspire, and empower my fellow ambassadors!”
Dr. K. Shelette Stewart
Director – Executive Education, SMU Cox

All that Jazz – 6 Signs of Hope from 2014

One need not look far to find turmoil, trouble and despair, especially in world-class urban centers like New York City. But as is often the case, the cloud still has a silver lining, “good” stands before us, and authentic reason for hope rises for yet another day and year.

Dr. Mac Pier, founder and CEO of The New York City Leadership Center (The NYCLC), has lived and labored in New York City for the past 30 years. The work at the center is focused on leaders – mobilizing leaders, developing leaders, uniting leaders, all for the purpose of transforming the cities of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In looking back over the past year, Pier provides plenty of reason for us to take heart and not grow weary in well doing. In fact, he’s downright jazzed about it. Here are six reasons for hope:

(1). Movement Day Greater Dallas – The year began with 1400 leaders from 60 communities and 150 churches coming together in January at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. This was the first replication of Movement Day in another major metropolitan area. Several leaders indicated that it was the most diverse and most substantial gathering of leaders they had seen in their lifetime.

“Working in Dallas over the past three years, we have been reminded that people from diverse racial backgrounds can truly work together,” states Pier. “Froswa Booker Drew, Jon Edmonds, and Pastor Bryan Carter emerged as magnificent leaders from the African-American community. Working with them helped us to realize that ‘being radically loved by someone radically different is the most powerful thing that can happen this side of heaven.’”

(2). The Emergence of Younger Leaders – Grant Skeldon launched a new group of Millennial leaders in Dallas called Initiative that gathers over 300 young adults every month. Ray Villegas provided tremendous leadership with the standing-room only crowd at the Young Leader track at Movement Day in NYC. Both instances are an affirmation that all great movements are started by leaders under 28 years of age and a great cause for hope in the next generation.

(3). Diversity of NYC Leadership – “We are privileged to work with thousands of NYC leaders throughout the year representing five continents, multiple languages, and diverse denominations”, states Pier. “The Body of Christ in modern day NYC is the most international church in human history. These are leaders who play such a vital role in catalyzing gospel movements worldwide.”

(4). Global Expansion of Movement Day – Pier interfaced with leaders in London, Gothenburg, Amsterdam, and Singapore about the potential of catalyzing leaders in their cities around the vision of Movement Day and transforming cities with the Gospel. He also found significant and growing interest in bringing Movement Day to other influential cities around the world.

Pier was honored to attend the 40th Anniversary of the Lausanne Movement with leaders from 12 regions of the world and being a part of monthly calls connecting with leaders in the UK, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, and the Philippines. “There is a sense of the hastening of the Body of Christ globally,” explains Pier, “to connect more deeply with one another to impact the world together.”

(5). Growth and Maturation of The New York City Leadership Center – The NYCLC has a 25 member team including the Dallas office with Jon Edmonds, Mark Brown, and Tina Jacobson. The board of directors added Ram Gidoomal in London as well as Bob Doll, Matt Ristuccia, and Rick Lyons. The other nine board members have been with the organization from the inception of The NYCLC. Craig Sider has been serving as president of The NYCLC since July 2013 and new team members of significant life and leadership experience have joined the organization. As Pier is fond of saying, “Our team looks like the cities we serve.”

(6). Concerts of Prayer Greater New York (COPGNY) – Dimas Salaberrios, President of COPGNY, led the largest Pastors’ Prayer Summit in its 23-year history in January with 350 leaders. “Prayer has played a vital and fundamental role in what has taken place in NYC over the past 25 years,” states Pier. “It will serve as our foundation and conduit of hope for all that is yet to come.”

There is so much to be thankful for as the year draws to a close. There is even greater cause for hope entering 2015. God is doing immeasurably more than we can ask or think.

Empowered21 Announces My Healthy Church as Partner for Jerusalem 2015 Global Congress

The Empowered21 Global Congress is quickly approaching and leaders for the relational network are excited to announce My Healthy Church as a partner for Jerusalem 2015, which will be held in Jerusalem May 20-25, 2015. My Healthy Church is a trusted source of Spirit-empowered ministry tools that disciples and equips churches worldwide.

“My Healthy Church provides high-quality, Spirit-empowered resources designed to enrich the lives of Believers on a global scale,” said Empowered21 President and Global Co-Chair William M. Wilson. “We are thankful for their support and believe they will be a valuable partner for Empowered21 as we seek to impart the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to the next generation through this event.”

“The partnership with My Healthy Church broadens the reach of the Jerusalem 2015 Global Congress to new networks, including some of the world’s largest Pentecostal movements,” said Empowered21 Global Co-Chair and General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God George O. Wood. “We look forward to Jerusalem with anticipation to see how God will move during this monumental gathering of Believers.”

“We believe the world is on the cusp of an unparalleled spiritual awakening,” said My Healthy Church President Sol Arledge, Jr. “My Healthy Church is excited to partner with Empowered 21 to unite believers from all over the world in Jerusalem in interceding for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”

The My Healthy Church distributor—also known as Mi Iglesia Saludable—has the depth and breadth of distinctive resources needed to equip churches for complete, robust ministry by rigorously reviewing and selecting the choicest, most relevant and effective materials from an impressive array of quality providers.

Founded upon the fivefold purpose of the New Testament church, community, compassion, discipleship, evangelism and worship, My Healthy Church’s wide-ranging selection spans all ages and addresses a multitude of church, family and individual needs.

The Empowered21 Global Congress, May 20-25, 2015, is a call to all believers from around the world to celebrate Pentecost in the land of Pentecost. The event is expected to bring thousands of Christians to the region for a time of teaching, praise and prayer. Main sessions will be held in the new Jerusalem Payis Arena.

For more information about My Healthy Church, visit http://www.myhealthychurch.com.

For more information, or to register for the Jerusalem 2015 Global Congress, visit http://www.jerusalem2015.com.

About My Healthy Church
My Healthy Church comes from a publishing legacy that spans one hundred years. From their humble storefront printer beginnings to today’s global church supplier, My Healthy Church has earned a respected reputation as a provider of powerful, substantive resources to the broader evangelical Christian market. The wide-ranging selection of believer resources spans all ages and church needs. Whether the need is for curriculum, personal or spiritual growth, leadership or education resources, My Healthy Church meets them all. For more information about My Healthy Church, visit http://www.myhealthychurch.com.

About Empowered21
Empowered21 aims to help shape the future of the global Spirit-empowered movement throughout the world by focusing on crucial issues facing the movement and connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation. Their vision is that every person on Earth would have an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit by Pentecost 2033. Get more information at http://www.empowered21.com. Registration is open for the Empowered21 Global Congress to be held May 20-25, 2015 in Jerusalem. Empowered21’s Global Congress Partner includes Charisma Media and their Modern English Version (MEV) Bible. For more information about the MEV Bible, visit http://modernenglishversion.com. Empowered21 is a Kingdom initiative served by Oral Roberts University, http://www.oru.edu.

City Transformation through Christian Communities Working Together

On January 22, 2015 over 2500 area leaders will gather for the second annual Movement Day Greater Dallas (MDGD), representing a diverse cultural and ethnic constituency of Christian leaders from business, education, healthcare, nonprofits, government, and the church. This year’s event includes a new evening plenary session with Matt Chandler in order to provide more leaders an opportunity to take part in the movement. Early bird registration is open and offering special group discounts.

Speakers for MDGD include Matt Chandler, lead pastor of teaching at The Village Church, Chip Ingram, CEO and teaching pastor of Living on the Edge, Dr. Jeff Warren, senior pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church, Pastor Bryan Carter of Concord Church, Dr. Jim Denison, founder of Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, Dr. Mac Pier, founder of Movement Day and The New York City Leadership Center and emcee Froswa Booker-Drew, the national community engagement director for World Vision.

Beyond the vision and inspiration of the morning plenary session, participants also attend one of eleven afternoon design tracks covering a range of issues impacting Greater Dallas such as education, hunger, human trafficking, prison re-entry, immigrant and orphan care, marketplace impact, leadership and financial stability. During these sessions, long range plans to address these critical issues are developed by sharing best practices and collaboration among those in attendance. During the rest of the year, local staff and design leaders work to maintain and accelerate the momentum arising from the day’s activities and to implement the strategies that were designed in the afternoon sessions.

Executive Director Jon Edmonds leads the initiative and says, “Movement Day Greater Dallas is not an ‘event’. It is a movement that encourages, equips and mobilizes Christian leaders throughout the city. It will transform not only Dallas, but cities around the globe with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The first Movement Day Greater Dallas was held on January 23, 2014 with 1400 leaders in attendance and represented the first successful replication of Movement Day in New York City, an annual convocation that has been linked to a 300% increase in the Christian population of Manhattan. From 2010-2014, nearly five thousand leaders from 360 cities and five continents have gathered in unity to learn best practices in urban ministry and cast a fresh vision for their own cities.

When more than 50 Christian leaders from Dallas attended Movement Day in 2012, seeds were planted for bringing Movement Day to Greater Dallas. Since that time, the prayers and hard work of countless individuals has resulted in those seeds coming to fruition, and a model for expansion now stands for other cities to follow. Movement Day is positioned to have impact not only for New York City and Greater Dallas but other urban centers around the world.

Cities throughout the world face tremendous social and spiritual challenges and the problems can seem insurmountable at times. But each grim statistic also offers an opportunity to transform individuals and communities with the love of Jesus Christ – “a city transformation through Christian communities working together” that Movement Day Greater Dallas intends to achieve.

Movement Day Greater Dallas

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center

8:30 AM – 9:00 PM

January 22, 2015

For more information, a complete list of afternoon sessions, and to register for MDGD, visit www.movementdaygreaterdallas.com

Forbidden Doors Christian Horror Film

Best-selling Author Bill Myers Newest Project

Los Angeles – Amaris Media Int. is producing a Christian horror film based upon Bill Myers’ “Forbidden Doors” book series, which won a C.S. Lewis Honor Award. Why Christian horror? Company vice president, Peggy Medberry said, “With the rise of so many supernatural books and films, we felt it was time to enter the arena and set the record straight regarding the real power of God.”

The movie deals with two teens who return to California from the Amazon mission field only to discover their classmates, in fact the entire town, is caught up in occult activity. Armed with only their understanding of Scripture, and learning as they go, the brother and sister battle against the forces of darkness to eventually set the captives free.

Instead of the more conventional source of finding financers, the company has chosen to use Kickstarter, a crowd funding approach where people can help by donating as little as five dollars. When asked why, Myers, a veteran of several successful Christian productions including Focus on the Family’s video series, “McGee and Me” said, “We felt God would be more glorified if the whole body of believers worked together to make this happen. Kind of a family thing.” The Kickstarter campaign which can be found here  http://kck.st/1rdb4UI will run until November 16. If the goal of $400,000 is not reached by that date, all money will be returned to the participating donors.

For more information on Bill Myers visit www.BillMyers.com

Kick Starter http://kck.st/1rdb4UI

 

 

Cities Need Faith

On October 23, 2014, over 1500 Christian leaders from 250 cities and 8 countries convened at the Marriott Marquis Time Square for Movement Day, the annual one-day event hosted by The New York City Leadership Center. This year’s event represented a significant milestone in that it was held for the fifth consecutive year and not only continued its practice of catalyzing leaders and fostering collaboration and unity, but it also celebrated several initiatives that have been birthed or accelerated as a result of the annual event.

The day concluded with a press conference where 8 key leaders reflected on the progress and future of the movement under the moderation of Craig Sider, president of The NYCLC. The clear message was that cities need faith more than ever before.

“Every month, 5 million people are moving into cities around the world. The significance and influence of these urban centers has never been greater. If we are going to keep up with the growth and positively affect our cities with the gospel, it is imperative that we work together in the most effective way possible,” comments Mac Pier, founder and CEO of The NYCLC and Movement Day.

Tim Keller, senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and a key partner of Movement Day, discussed how the density and diversity of today’s cities has resulted in a healthy competition requiring leaders to dig deeper and to be more creative in their approach. Movement Day provides a way for participants to do more than talk. It challenges them to move beyond their differences, work together and foster the creativity alluded to by Keller.

Bob Doll, chief equity strategist and senior portfolio manager at Nuveen Asset Management emphasized the importance of the marketplace in meeting the challenges of the urban environment by stating, “Most people don’t go to church, so they will need to find Christ somewhere else. The workplace is a great place for that to occur, but we have to earn the right to be heard. We do that by being good at what we do.”

One of the many encouraging things to come out of Movement Day has been Movement Day Greater Dallas and the emerging group of millennial leaders in Dallas called Initiative. MDGD was held for the first time this past January and attended by more than 1400 leaders in the Dallas area. As the first successful replication of the New York event, Ram Gidoomal, London-based business leader and board chairman for the Lausanne Movement expressed, “Big cities can learn from New York and New York can learn from other big cities. If this can be done in Dallas, why not cities across the globe?”

Also emerging from Movement Day, the Luis Palau Association has organized a metropolitan effort called NY CityServe for the purpose of uniting churches, serving the city of New York and proclaiming the good news. The initiative launched in September 2014 and over 1,000 leaders gathered to kick off a year-long campaign of service initiatives in the city.

Other panelists for the press conference included:

• Jon Edmonds, executive director of Movement Day Greater Dallas
• Kevin Palau, president of the Louis Palau Association
• Jim Liske, president of Prison Fellowship
• Gary Frost, vice-president of the Midwest Region, North American Mission Board

In describing the mission of Movement Day, Pier concluded the press conference by saying, “There is an incredible need for collaboration that will reach beyond our organizations and spread the gospel more effectively. Our purpose is to celebrate and accelerate what God is already doing and not reinvent the wheel. The time to act is now.”

www.MovementDay.com

 

Empowered21 President and Global Co-Chair Signs Historic Letter with Christian, Jewish leaders to Halt Persecution of Middle East Christians

At a press conference on Monday, October 13, in Jerusalem, Empowered21 President and Global Co-Chair Billy Wilson joined with prominent leaders of major Jewish and Christian global organizations to sign a historic joint initiative calling on world leaders to take firm action to halt the brutal persecution of Christians in the Middle East.

The letter was sent to 95 democratic countries and co-signed by Dr. William M. Wilson, president and co-chairman of the Empowered21 Global Council and president of Oral Roberts University (www.oru.edu); International Christian Embassy Jerusalem executive director Dr. Jürgen Bühler; and World Jewish Congress president Ronald S. Lauder. The joint initiative was unveiled at the Feast of Tabernacles celebration sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.

“This letter gives an important voice to Christians who are being persecuted and even killed for their faith around the world, especially in the Middle East,” said Dr. Wilson of ORU and Empowered21. “In this age of technology, we have a greater awareness of these types of alarming oppressions and a greater responsibility to protect Christian communities. Most Christ followers in these difficult situations will not respond with violence and therefore need global governmental authorities to stand with them against these injustices.”

Wilson continued, “I was humbled that Mr. Lauder, whose people have persevered through some of the greatest persecution in the world’s history, joined to sign this historic letter. To see this prominent Jewish leader stand with Christians in this moment should speak volumes to these world leaders.”

According to The Voice of the Martyrs, there are more Christian Martyrs today than there were in 100 AD-in the days of the Roman Empire. Of the top 10 countries of the worst Christian persecution listed by Open Doors, eight are in the Middle East.

The rise of ISIS, or the Islamic State (IS), has continued to raise concern for the safety of Christians in the Middle East. This information from World Watch Monitor shows some example of the threat:

“Where Islamic State has gained power, their reign of terror is driving all Christians and other minorities out. Before Islamic State began its rampage, about 3,000 Christians had been living in Mosul, down from 35,000 after the 2003 war. Now, there are virtually no Christians left. The mainly Christian town of Qarakosh has been abandoned as well, along with other villages; the last Christians have left the northern town of Bartella. Tens of thousands of Christians have become internally displaced, fleeing to the Kurdish region, with cities like Erbil and Dohuk taking in thousands of them.”

Also on hand to speak at the press conference was Canon Andrew White, known as the ‘Vicar of Baghdad,’ an Anglican cleric who has become one of the leading voices of the persecuted Christians of Iraq.

“The current plight of Middle East Christians is heart-breaking and even western churches have to do more to bring the suffering of our fellow believers to the forefront worldwide,” said Dr. Bühler. “But to have a prominent global Jewish leader lend his voice to this moral call for protecting the region’s persecuted Christians is unprecedented in modern times. We welcome all others of goodwill who will take a stand now for these vulnerable ancient Christian communities.”

“Just as Christians defend Jews against anti-Semitism, just as Christians support Israel, we Jews have an obligation to speak out against the growing persecution of Christians in many parts of the world,” Lauder said in explaining his participation as head of the World Jewish Congress.

“Islamist extremists have launched a full-fledged assault on our Western values, on our civilization, and Jews and Christians must work hand in hand to defeat this threat. For too long, the world has remained silent in the face of this evil. We must act before it is too late,” Lauder added.

There are more than 600 million Spirit empowered Christians around the world. Empowered21 aims to help shape the future of the global Spirit-empowered movement throughout the world by focusing on crucial issues facing the movement and connecting generations for intergenerational blessing and impartation. Their vision is that every person on Earth would have an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit by Pentecost 2033. More information on Empowered21 can be found at www.empowered21.com.

Empowered21 will bring Christians together to contemplate the critical issues facing the Spirit-empowered movement at the upcoming Global Congress to be held May 20-25, 2015 in Jerusalem. This Congress is a call to all believers from around the world to celebrate Pentecost in the land of Pentecost. The event is expected to bring thousands of Christians to the region for a time of teaching, praise and prayer. Main sessions will be held in the new Jerusalem Payis Arena with the final session on Pentecost Sunday scheduled as a intergenerational global launch toward renewed world evangelization under the theme “To the Ends of the Earth”. More information can be obtained at www.jerusalem2015.com.

Read the letter at http://empowered21.com/feast-press-conference/feast-joint-letter.pdf

See the list of world leaders it was sent to at http://empowered21.com/feast-press-conference/feast-list-of-leaders.pdf

 

Awakening to God

“An inspiring book for anyone exploring the adventure of faith!” Bear Grylls, adventurer and author

“Awakening to God is a great read for anyone interested in knowing God.” Roma Downey Burnett, actor, author

In May 2014, while still grieving the suicide of his teenage son eight years prior, Gerard Long faced the accidental death of his precious daughter. Reflecting on his daughter’s tragic drowning, Long encountered a sobering parallel that shifted into high gear the urgent mission to which he has dedicated his life—a “rescue mission,” as he calls it, for people to reach out to those around them who are spiritually sinking. Although the Long family endures intense suffering, Gerard still sees hope in this life. From the brokenness flows a new passion to encourage others.

In his newest book, Awakening to God: Discovering His Power and Your Purpose (Tyndale, September 2014), Long reveals his heart and vision for widespread spiritual renewal by sharing the raw and authentic story of his own journey of life-altering awakenings. He invites readers to wake up to God’s call on their own lives. Recounting experiences he’s had, “times when God has either roused me from a spiritual slumber or has otherwise redirected my steps to be more in line with his purpose for my life,” Long illustrates how he discovered that these awakenings are essential to God’s work in the lives of every person, as well as in the movements of this world.

Gerard Long

www.AwakeningToGod.net

 

 

 

Chip Ingram to Speak at Movement Day Greater Dallas 2015

Chip Ingram, CEO and teaching pastor of Living on the Edge, will be one of the plenary speakers at the second annual Movement Day Greater Dallas (MDGD), on January 22, 2015. Area leaders will gather for diverse cultural and ethnic constituency of Christian leaders from business, education, healthcare, nonprofits, government and the church. There are more than 2500 expected participants, nearly doubling the attendance from last year.

Chip Ingram is no novice when it comes to teaching, inspiring and encouraging others. He founded Living on the Edge twenty five years ago with a passion to help Christians live like Christians. Through this ministry, as well as being a pastor and author, Chip has reached believers around the world, inspiring them to not merely be spiritual spectators, but to become strong disciples of Jesus by living out God’s word on a daily basis. His pragmatic approach makes it simple to apply God’s truth to everyday situations and he will no doubt supply the Movement Day attendees with practical ways to do just that.

Chip, along with Gregg Dedrich, president of Living on the Edge, will be leading a thirty-minute workshop called Holy Ambition. Dedrich has ventured through a personal journey of finding his purpose and holy ambition while serving in high-level corporate role, which enables them to provide the participants a firsthand testament on how to confront and navigate such a journey.

“In the afternoon, Chip will provide encouragement as he presents this workshop. We are excited to have him bring application to what we learn in the morning plenary session. What a privilege to have this additional application and encouragement from him.” states Jon Edmonds, Executive director of MDGD.

Movement Day Greater Dallas, the first replication of Movement Day in New York, occurred on January 23, 2014 where 1400 leaders attended to learn best practices in urban ministry and cast a fresh vision for their own cities. Numerous groups formed during the inaugural event have continued to meet regularly and these continued efforts are evident that the goal to encourage, equip and mobilize Christian leaders throughout the city has been successful. In addition to the plenary speakers such as Chip Ingram, there will be eight returning afternoon tracks and two new tracks for participants to engage. These cover issues such as education, hunger, human trafficking, leadership, marketplace, financial stability, immigrant care, orphan care, prison reentry, exploring God and public safety chaplain support.

Dr. Mac Pier, founder of Movement Day and The New York City Leadership Center, explains, “We want to encourage city leaders and inspire them as gospel city movement practitioners, to understand there are opportunities for collaboration that will help accelerate a strategic Gospel impact in their city. Ingram’s experience from years of ministry will provide wisdom and encouragement to aide in this initiative”.

Movement Day Greater Dallas
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
8:30 AM – 9:00 PM

January 22, 2015

For more information, a complete list of afternoon sessions, and to register for MDGD, visit www.movementdaygreaterdallas.com

 

 

Q and A with Mac Pier on Movement Week 2014

Mac Pier

As Founder & CEO of The New York City Leadership Center, Mac Pier and his team seek to catalyze Christian Leaders to impact their city. The vision of The Center is to become a model of Christian leaders impacting the spiritual and social climate of an urban center. Movement Day is focused on accelerating the influence of Christian leadership in the forty largest cities in the US and in influential cities globally in order to address the spiritual and social issues facing marginalized peoples today. 

What do you hope to accomplish through Movement Week and Movement Day?

It’s a fact that most major cities face many of the same spiritual and social issues. These include vast populations unreached by the gospel, profound poverty and an emerging youth population that is struggling to surpass the 50 percent high school graduation rate. By challenging and activating Christian leaders in cities to step up and confront these and other problems collaboratively through a “gospel movement”, we can transform the lives of marginalized people and ultimately change those cities and our entire culture through Christ.

Additional sessions that week (City Advance and the Global Strategy Conference) will allow city, church/ministry, marketplace and agency leaders to share case studies and best practices, foster collaboration and address issues larger than one organization can accomplish in this generation.

How would you actually define a “gospel movement”?

A “gospel movement” is considered to be taking place when the Christian population is growing faster than the general population in a city and/or region. It also encompasses the following elements:

• The integration of local churches reaching new individuals with the gospel;
• Ministry and community leaders transforming the lives of youth, the poor and marginalized;
• Cultural leaders exercising their faith and influence in every sector of society;
• The growth of citywide networks that mobilize, develop and connect these leaders.

When all of these elements work together to make the Gospel of grace, truth, mercy and justice visible and tangible, the kingdom of God will become more real in the life of each city. We believe Movement Day can help make that happen through the ministry, marketplace and community leaders in attendance.

Why is Movement Week being held in New York City?

New York City is the most influential city in America. All of the social and spiritual issues that need to be addressed by a gospel movement can be experienced within its borders. A model that works in NYC can likely be adapted to work in any other large city in the U.S. and perhaps the rest of the world.

This is the fifth year for Movement Day. What have you seen accomplished as a result of the conference so far?

The concept and program are definitely growing, both in numbers of committed participants and in the level of excitement. The first year we had more than 800 leaders from 150 cities and 14 countries attend Movement Day. That attendance number increased in 2013 to two thousand leaders by the end of that week’s activities. We anticipate similar attendance numbers this year.

We’re also seeing Christian leaders in more than 30 cities forming “city teams,” working together to face the social and spiritual issues of their cities through the Gospel. And it’s working! People’s lives and multiple cities are being transformed by these collaborations.  Leaders in the city of Dallas have adapted the Movement Day model and have hosted an event earlier this year, focused on mobilizing leaders to collaboratively address the issues impacting their city.

When people attend Movement Week in New York on October 22- 24, what will they experience at the congress?

Movement Week 2014 will feature such remarkable leaders and speakers as Dr. Timothy Keller, Luis Palau, Charles Jenkins and several others speaking on today’s leadership trends and urban challenges. There also are a dozen or more topical tracks held that leaders can choose from—tracks that function as “working groups” focused upon specific urban issues. It will be a full day of paradigm-shifting teachings, networking with other leaders from around the country, sharing of best-practices – all focused on transforming the world through Christ, one city at a time. Once again, we have added the two-day City Advance training on Tuesday, and the Global Strategy Conference focused on missions effectiveness on Wednesday.

How do we find out more about Movement Week, such as where to register, the day’s schedule and the like?

Go to www.MovementDay.com  for all the details. The Movement Day conference will be held at the New York Marriott Marquis on Thursday, October 23, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.