News from the Summit
Saturday, May 3, 2003
Participants returned with enthusiasm Saturday morning to
start the final day of the Summit.
Highlights:
 |
Some photos of Day 3 |
| The Rev. David Hicks (President, Bethany Fellowship)
presented the morning devotional on Luke 10:2 in which Jesus alerted his
disciples to the vast harvest, ripened and ready, and asked them to plead
before the "Lord of the harvest" to send workers into the harvest. He observed
that we may not always realize the scope of the harvest because that scope is
not obvious when you are down among the stalks. He urged us (illustrating the
issues with charts from Patrick Johnstone) to keep alert to the harvest needs
and to ask the Father for workers, even workers to help us when we feel
overwhelmed. |
| Twenty workshops were presented through the rest of the morning and afternoon. These included topics like "Hindu Family and Community Life in America," "Music, Sports, and Drama to reach Ethnic Youth," and "Developing Ethnic Cell Churches" (to see a list of the workshop titles or to purchase cassette recordings of workshops, go to Sound Word Associates). |
| For the evening meal participants went back to the hotel or
to nearby restaurants since Christ Presbyterian Church held their confirmation
service during our dinner break. We are so grateful to a church willing to be
so flexible! |
| The evening service opened again with enthusiastic singing and worship led by the City Worship Band. |
| Rev. Saknini led in prayer (in Arabic) |
| Nick Venditti welcomed the participants and introduced Wali Ahmad (chairman of Philadelphia 2004), who announced the 2004 Ethnic Workers' Summit to be held in Philadelphia (April 15-17, 2004). Bro. Ahmad showed a short video. Then Alex Turoczi (co-chair of Philadelphia 2004)introduced the committee preparing the Philadelphia Summit. |
| Nick Venditti interviewed Chander Mehta and his wife, hearing of the marvelous grace of God active in their lives and how they came to know Him. |
| "Forgiven" presented music as the offering was collected. Tonight's offering goes to the preparations for the Philadelphia 2004 Summit. |
| Dr. Ken Uyeda Fong, Pastor of Evergreen Church in the Los
Angeles area, spoke on the topic "Confessions of a
Former Homogeneous Principle Pastor" Dr. Fong centered his message on Ephesians 2:11-22, noting, in part, that |
- Ethnic people can be as prejudiced against other ethnics as can the traditional majority populations. There are even generational prejudices within a group.
- In building redemptive communities historic ethnic churches are not excused.
- "Whites reached out to us; reach back to them."
- Every church still has a dominant culture; we must be sensitive so that does not diminish our ministry impact.