Neighbors Schedule — Stronger Together

Workshop 1

10:00-10:45

Room 1

Dream Clock
Clarence Hill
The Dream Clock is a step-by-step guide to building understanding between communities. Come learn practical ways that you can take action and make a difference.

Room 2

Youth Discipleship in Under-Resourced Communities.
Jared Stevenson
We need a movement of evangelism and discipleship amongst youth that are from under resourced communities. Why? Because there are unique contributions that youth in under resourced communities can provide to a city looking to become more like Jesus. Come hear stories and a compelling vision of how life on life discipleship amongst youth in under resourced communities is an investment worth giving your life for.”

Room 3

Loving the Doors Open: How churches can have a salt-and-light presence in their local schools
Chauncey Shillow and Nick Ellis
Churches across the Oklahoma City metro area are seeing God move in wonderful ways across the campuses of their local schools. The people of God are "loving the doors open" to create space for the kingdom of God in hundreds of hallways and classrooms. Come hear stories of how God has been moving, and consider with us how God may want to use you as an ambassador of the kingdom in a school near you!

Room 4

Thou Shalt Love the Sojourners
Chris Le
Do you know an immigrant at your school, your workplace, or your neighborhood? Come join us for a first hand account of what it's like to be an immigrant and walk away with practical tips on how to love them.

Room 5

Steady Wins the Race
Aaron John and Matthew Beasley
God is patient, but we often aren't. When it comes to loving others, living on mission, or doing ministry, it's easy to get discouraged or burnt out because of unmet expectations and perceived failures. Come discuss with us a more realistic pace of progress and how we can patiently persevere in the good work God has given us.

Room 6

Rooted Advocacy
John-Mark Hart
By precept and example, the Bible calls on God's people to lift our voices on behalf of the oppressed and downtrodden. Throughout history, Christians have responded to this call by advocating for vulnerable neighbors in a way that is rooted in Christ and in the scriptures. In this workshop, we will explored how to engage in this kinded of "rooted advocacy" that is shaped by the love of Jesus rather than anger or political ideology.

Workshop 2

11:00-11:45

Room 1

Mobilizing the Church to Serve Neighbors
Kori Hall, John-Mark Hart, Sarah Hawk, and Matthew Beasley
This workshop will explore the practical challenges and opportunities we face when trying to mobilize God's people to love our most vulnerable neighbors. Our four presenters will share stories of their own experiences mobilizing the body of Christ, and we will leave plenty of time for you to ask questions and share your own experiences.

Room 2

Empowering the Future: Inspiring Mission, Justice, and Citizenship in Generations to Come
Brittany Thomas
In this workshop, we'll explore ways to empower students to not only thrive personally but also become passionate advocates for mission, justice, and the world around them. By the end of this session, participants will leave with practical strategies and inspiration to help themselves and/or students make a positive impact on their communities and the world.

Room 3

Coming together for the true, the good, and the beautiful; Partnering for education and access
Morgan Shillow and Nathan Carr
What does it look like when Christian classical schools operate with a spirit of partnership and not competition? A hopeful conversation about the role an educational ecosystem in Oklahoma City in which EVERY CHILD has access to the highest quality education, no matter their income, ethnicity, or academic needs.

Room 4

Loving Your Neighbor in a Complex World: Insights from the Latino Church
Paul Sanchez
Latino culture is surprisingly complex and the Latino church is embodies this complexity in its history and in its contemporary expressions in the United States. This complicated story—beautiful but also tragic—offers insight for how Christians can love one another and their neighbors well today. In this diverse world, troubled with tensions, the Latino story offers a sobering but hopeful picture for those seeking to love their neighbor and to find greater unity with their spiritual brothers and sisters.

Room 5

Abuse Prevention, Response, and Spiritual Care for Survivors in Our Churches
Eric Costanzo and Leanne Deason
How can we develop policies to better protect the most vulnerable in our churches? How can we screen and train our staff and volunteers to improve the safety and security of our ministries? What do we do when someone discloses abuse to our church leadership? How can church leaders shepherd victims through the devastation of abuse or domestic violence? While the answers to these questions are complex, this session is designed to provide general principles that can be a starting point for church leaders who are working to implement effective policies and practices for abuse prevention, abuse response, and survivor care.

Room 6

Leadership Lessons from the Storm: Non-Metaphorical and Autobiographical
Heath Thomas

Workshop 3

1:30-2:15

Room 1

Seeking the Kingdom
Sarah Hawk
Seeking the kingdom in your city is about partnering well with the work of God that’s always happening in every place because of God’s promise to set all things right! How do you begin to connect with where he is at work in your neighborhood? Come find out!

Room 2

Biblical Justice
Kori Hall
The word "justice" is often misused and weaponized in our culture, but the Bible has a lot to say about God's true justice. This workshop will explore what the scriptures teach about "doing justice." We will also enter into a dialogue about how these principles affect the mission of the church today.

Room 3

Church Get Involved or Else: Why and How the Church Needs to Go to School
Lee Roland
In this presentation, atendees will gain a profound insight into the urgent need for the church to shift from idle aspirations to active engagement. Discover how the church can collaborate with our local schools, rolling up its metaphorical sleeves, to drive positive change and enhance the well-being of both Oklahoma, America, and beyond.

Room 4

From Welcome to Advocacy: How Churches Can Best Serve our Immigrant and Refugee Neighbors
Eric Costanzo
The nations are in our backyard—in each of our neighborhoods. Among our international neighbors are many who have fled some of the worst circumstances imaginable in some of the world’s most desperate and hard to reach places. Where better these neighbors find life-giving community than in the community of faith itself? In this session, we will talk about both biblical and strategic ways that churches can welcome and serve immigrants and refugees and manage the conflict and struggles that come with this kind of ministry. We will also talk about practical principles related to helping immigrants and refugees advance towards thriving and what biblical advocacy looks like in the public square.

Room 5

Caring for Our Community through Health Care
Kim and Julane Swyden, Reid Hebert, and Clarissa Watkins
This workshop will help us explore whether health care is a possible ministry in your church. We will hear from people who have started health care as a ministry and hear about some resources and way to consider moving forward.

Room 6

How to Mobilize Treasure for Transformation
Scotia Moore
In this session, we will explore the topic of redemptive generosity. We will share some ways that those who are doing transformative work in communities and those who fund that work can partner to build trust, show honor, practice mutuality, and co-create.