Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Christian Education - Church Administration - Funding Resources

Tapestry of Faith: How Intersections of Culture and Spiritual Perspective Created A Historical Bond of Interfaith Dialogue Between Black Muslims and Black Christians

While many believe Black Muslims and Christians are irrevocably disparate, we can look to our rich historical bonds and approaches in interfaith dialogue to help us become fully equipped to flourish in God’s work and in society.           

In communities across the Nation, Black Muslims and Christians face intersectional issues of racism, socioeconomic stressors, identity, and the act of cultivating a living faith in a consistently hostile environment. These issues affect our self-concept, social development, perception of social and faith community, and personal relationship with God. While many believe Black Muslims and Christians are irrevocably disparate, both groups have a rich history of intersectional bonds and approaches in collaborative interfaith perspectives, spirituality, and practice. This common sentiment is often accepted and acted upon as an immutable truth, presenting as a form of strong (and generally hostile) aversion. This distrust due to differences in faith often prevents opportunities for beneficial interfaith experiences from being fully realized. And this can lead to a lack of knowledge exchange to solve harms affecting both groups due to our shared Black identity.

As Black people, we have neither been allowed the time nor space to find beneficial release from shared historical trauma and the effects of survival. These outcomes affect our ability to thrive in society from psychological, emotional, physical, and social threats. Furthermore, our intersectional social identities as Black people of Faith require distinct frameworks for capability building and development in individual, familial, and communal domains. Our communities require synergistic approaches combining culturally-specific wisdom and faith principles to ensure our successful progress in life. To achieve this growth, we can look to our historical bonds of interfaith dialogue to help us to become fully equipped to flourish in God's work and society.

Aamaal Abdul-Malik Anderson is a Mosque Revitalization Consultant with over fifteen years of experience in marketing strategy, customer engagement, experience strategy, digital marketing, and public relations. She seeks to provide solutions to improve mosque health and cultivate holistically engaged and supported communities and ignite interfaith knowledge exchange. She believes a place of worship should be a living entity. It should adjust, envelope, and inspire its congregation to support and revitalize the community in which they reside. If it (through the leadership) takes care of the community and its needs, the community will take care of it in all aspects.

Aamaal is a mental health and suicide prevention advocate with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). She also volunteers with several local and national organizations focusing on youth development, homelessness, intimate partner violence, reproductive justice, and community-based sexual assault victim advocacy.

http://www.facebook.com/aamaalyam | http://twitter.com/AamaalAM

Bi-vocational Ministry/Collaborative Leadership

Reinforce need for creative and collaborative leadership amid our changing contexts as a gut check for those already in or considering vocational ministry in our radically changing context.

Adam Mixon has been preaching and pastoring for over 25 years, serving the Zion Spring Baptist Church, Birmingham Alabama for 18 years. He was educated at the University of Cincinnati, Samford University, and Beeson Divinity School. While Adam, did not grow up in a particular Christian tradition, his writing is largely pastoral with a strong emphasis on the practical application of scripture.

Adam served several years as the President of the Pastors and Minister’s Conference and as Dean of the Educational Congress within the New Era Progressive Baptist State Convention of Alabama. He was also a member of the official staff in the local district association. He has been a preaching peer-group facilitator for the Lily Group in association with Beeson Divinity School. Adam currently serves on the faculty and as mentor for the Macedonian Ministry(The Ministry Collaborative) in Atlanta, GA. Adam enjoys serving as a mentor for several programs and doing the work of a community activist.

Adam has been married to Adrienne for 24 years, and is a proud father to Benjamin, Rachel, and Ariel. His family is his greatest accomplishment.

http://adammixon.com | http://JustAdam72 | http://instagram.com/adam_mixon/ | http://Linkedin.com/in/adam-mixon-567813126/

Physicians of the Soul, Gatekeepers of the Mind

Mental illness is not a sin.

For many who seek psychiatric care, religion and spirituality significantly influence their internal and external lives and are an important part of healing (American Psychiatric Association Foundation, 2018.) Often congregants look directly to faith leaders for support beyond their spiritual needs when facing mental illnesses. Considered physicians of the soul and gatekeepers of the mind, faith leaders must act as a liaison for education, support, and referrals to professional services. Faith leaders must ask themselves the question, ‘Does my perception, rhetoric, actions, and initiatives help or hinder parishioners seeking mental healing?’

Physicians of the Soul, Gatekeepers of the Mind part of a global effort to de-stigmatize mental illness, increase awareness of perceptions related to mental health services, and promote mental health support among clergy given their role as spiritual caregivers. This presentation will debunk common misconceptions regarding mental health from a biblical, theological, social, and cultural context.

Angellica S. Sweat is redefining what it means to overcome adversity. Her message is one of Divine healing, redemption, and restoration. Defying cultural, religious, gender, and socio-economic boundaries, Angellica is committed to cultivating scholarship, fostering discipleship, and providing leadership in the areas God has called her to serve.

Prior to joining the higher education workforce, Angellica served as the Director of Youth Ministries for the Lincolnton District (WNCC) Christian Education Department - A.M.E. Zion Church for six years. Angellica currently serves her denomination as the Advisor for youth ministry and is part of the Christian Education Department Implementation Staff. In this role, she oversees ministry initiatives and educational purposes related to fostering the development of credible, committed Christian disciples.

Angellica graduated from Livingstone College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Cum Laude. She also has earned her Master of Divinity with concentrations in Biblical Studies and Preaching & Worship from Hood Theological Seminary. As a scholar, Angellica’s research focuses on mental health, biblical hermeneutics, and the role of the black church. Angellica is committed to transforming the understanding of lived experiences, the contemporary need for sacred space, and the moral significance of scholarship in the 21st century black church.

http://www.facebook.com/angellicasweat | http://www.instagram.com/simplyangellica/ | http://www.linkedin.com/in/angellicasweat

Reimagining Church Leadership/Administration Post Pandemic

We can admit or default way of leading and administraing the church must change. Let’s rethink & learn relevant, effective ways to lead and administrate the church post pandemic.

1. Acknowledging and grieving the loss of our old way of leading and administrating the church.

2. Acknowledge what we need to “unlearn”

3. Reimagine church leadership and administration that equips and releases ministry to the people of God in continuing to use digital and distributed approach to leadership and administration.

4. Action steps"

Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church currently serving as a District Superintendent of the Gulf Center area of the Florida Annual Conference. She has oversight of 89 pastors and churches. She also serves as a consultant, coach, and resource person to Bishops, Conference Developers, and Church Planters in starting and maintaining New Churches.

The call to ministry came when she was twenty-two years old and she obediently followed God, accepted the call, and enrolled in Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia to begin preparation. Four years later, she received the Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Doctor Lewis has been in full time ministry for over twenty years and is an excellent teacher and preacher of God’s word. She completed her Doctorate in Ministry degree in Church Leadership Excellence at  Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC graduating in May 2014. Candace enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, walking, jogging, and  participating in Fitbit challenges &  5k and 10k races to push herself,  listening to music, travel and meeting new people.

She has traveled  extensively in mission and ministry to countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, Hong Kong, China and Ghana, South Korea, and Germany. God has given to her a powerful message to the body of Christ, which she delivers under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Her first book was published January 2019, Resurgence - Navigating the Changing Ministry Landscape and is available for purchase on Amazon.

https://www.facebook.com/candace.m.lewis

Systems, Structures and Strategy: An Alternative Approach to Church Administration

The goal is for attendees to walk away with new ideas to consider in the administration and implementation of their ministry.

This session will provide an overview of management strategies and best practices within the local church. Space will be provided for attendees to ask questions and share some of their practices with others in attendance. Topics such as change management, project management, strategic planning (from idea through implementation to assessment/after action review), and organizational design will be discussed as it applies to the church. Methods and tools for ministry will be discussed as well as examples of application of the methods.

A native of Birmingham, AL, Reverend Christopher Oliver is a servant-leader who is passionate about teaching, preaching, and discipleship. He serves on the ministerial staff and as a band member at Simon Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, Fayetteville, NC. Oliver attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army for nine years (2002-2011), which included 3 combat tours.

His other education includes 3 Master’s degrees – M.S. Information Technology and M.B.A. (University of Maryland University College); M.A. Christian Practice (Duke Divinity School – Magna Cum Laude). Reverend Oliver is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (Nonprofit concentration) at Eastern University in Saint Davids, PA. He has also served in various leadership capacities in several civic organizations; he is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., having served at the local, district and regional level. He is also a member of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Fayetteville Family Life Center, a non-profit mental health agency located in Fayetteville, NC. He is also a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Hood Theological Seminary (Salisbury, NC) and Eastern University (St. Davids, PA). A family man, Reverend Oliver is married to the former Stephanie Hampton of Fairfield, AL and they have a son, Joshua Christopher.

https://www.hoodseminary.edu/employee/oliver

Leadership & Followership: Partnering for a Transformation

Successful church leadership is a partnership between the Pastor and Lay Leaders. The developmental of a firm relationship between the Pastor and Lay leaders is vital to the mission, vision, and growth of the church.

Transitioning from a hierarchical leadership model to a relational leadership model is vital for the sustenance of the church. The very meaning of leadership is a relationship and interaction between the leaders and followers. Without followers there is no one to lead. For the church, this means transforming leadership relationships between Pastors, Ministerial Staff and Lay leaders. The leadership relationship is built on trust, openness, and respect. This presentation will highlight this relational leadership model, discuss the importance of followership, and provide tools and instruction to become a successful, spirited follower in the church.

The relational leadership model is built upon these important components. 1) The leadership team must be comprised of people that are committed to a common vision and mission with a shared set of values. 2) Members of the leadership team transition from leadership to followership depending on the circumstances. 3) Followership is no longer a subordinate role.

Why is followership important? Followers have influence. Followership is an art. Followers inspire, encourage, and create impact. When followership is no longer considered a secondary role, followers have the capacity to advance the vision and goals of the church, not only in the sanctuary and also in the community.

Followers must be willing to develop the tools and skills necessary to be successful in this role.

Built around a model of courage, participants will engage in practices to learn transformative, constructive behavioral changes to provide leadership that is essential to address the growth and development of the church.

Dana Stilley has a wide range of professional leadership experience in higher education, finance, and risk management. She presently is a Doctoral Candidate at Old Dominion University, where she is pursuing a PhD.

A lifelong resident of Rockland County, Dana has been a devoted member of St. Charles A.M.E. Zion church since her childhood. Having held a variety of leadership positions in the church, Dana learned and understands the importance of developing and encouraging a diverse leadership and followership team. She is devoted to sharing her leadership development expertise with others.

Recently, Dana has presented at The North Eastern Episcopal District Restoration Summit and The Imagine Me Women’s Conference. She has received various honors for her commitment to bettering the lives of others.

Dana serves as the Treasurer of the Trustee Board, the Leader of Class Leaders, and a member of the Choir at St. Charles. She is the President of the Rockland Negro Scholarship Fund, and a past President of Rockland County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. She also holds a leadership position on the Board of the African American Historical Society of Rockland. Also, she is a member of American Association for Women in Community Colleges, and the Nyack Branch of the NAACP.

Dana holds an MBA from Columbia Graduate School of Business, and a BS in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Brown University. Dana is married to Derrick, and they have one son, Derrick James. Dana’s mantra is  ‘Dare to Dream, Grow, and Succeed.’

Congregational Cultivation - Building Community Capacity

Churches leaders will have a better understanding of how to serve and thrive as a non-profit organization.

This presentation will provide tools and resources to assist churches in the interaction of human capital, organizational resources, and social capital existing within a given community that can be leveraged to solve collective problems to improve or maintain the well-being of a given community. They will learn the importance of partnerships (local, state, and federal agencies) that can assist with applying and locating funding and grant opportunities. Finally, participants will learn how to establish and utilize a 501c3 status.

Reverend Derrill Antonio Blue is a native of Broadway, NC. He is the son of Jerry and Gail Quick. He graduated from Lee Senior High School in 2001. He received his undergraduate education in Business Management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Organization Leadership from the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. He obtained his Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Oklahoma City, OK. In January 2017, he began his doctoral studies at Boston University where he is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) in Transformational Leadership.

Reverend Derrill A. Blue preached his trial sermon on June 9, 2002 and began his pastoral vocation at the age of 23. He has served the following A.M.E. Zion congregations:  Erwin Memorial in Erwin, North Carolina, Coleman Chapel in Batesville, Mississippi, New Beginnings in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sharon Chapel in Sharon, Mississippi, Mt. Olive in Waterbury, CT. On December 17, 2017, Reverend Derrill A. Blue was appointed pastor of the Memorial AME Zion Church in Rochester, New York. He was appointed the Presiding Elder of the Rochester-Syracuse District on July 15, 2018.

Reverend Derrill A. Blue has experience working in the banking industry, university assessment, and accreditation.

Reverend Derrill A. Blue is married to the former Paula Danielle Bryant. They have two children Makis Antonio Blue and Norie Danielle Blue.          

http://memorialamezion.org | https://www.facebook.com/memorialamezion |http://www.linkedin.com/in/derrillblue1b842b6b | http://twitter.com/dab27505

Politics vs. Policy: The Business of Church

Knowledge of the major items to be included in the church's governing documents and the duties of those chosen to govern the church.

Whether incorporated or unincorporated, churches as legal entities. As such, they are required to operate according to their governing documents and applicable state and federal laws. Many churches operate more according to church politics as opposed to its policies and in some cases the policies are completely outdated and irrelevant. The principal governing documents for churches are typically its Articles of Organization, Bylaws, and/or Constitution. This presentation will address major items to be included in these documents and the fiduciary duties of those chosen to govern the church.

Attorney D'Lorah Butts-Lucas is licensed to practice law in Florida and specializes in business and nonprofit law. Her legal experience includes work in private law firms, the Florida State Court System, and her own law practice. Attorney Butts-Lucas has provided corporate counsel for individuals and organizations in 25 states. Her professional experience includes nonprofit management, supervision, human resources administration, and leadership roles in a private company, public school district, and private higher education institution.

In addition to practicing law, Attorney Butts-Lucas is a business owner and member of the Halifax Health Hospice Advisory Board, Volusia Young Professionals Group, African-American Entrepreneurs Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has a heart to serve as evidenced by her former candidacy for public office, domestic ministry for two decades and global missions and ministry efforts on four continents. Her mission work included leading the re-opening of and serving as the Executive Director of Nyame Bekyere Christian School in Ghana, West Africa for five years.

Equipped for her calling in law and service, Attorney Butts-Lucas received her Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University College of Law (2003), Master’s degree in Practical Theology from Regent University (2014), and Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University in Human & Organizational Development (1999).  Attorney Butts-Lucas is the author of a devotional entitled ""G.R.A.C.E. God's Refuge Against Crushing Experiences"" and a dynamic speaker.

http://dblucaslaw.com

Innovative Change: Navigating the Season of Rapid Change

Provide Resources to Leaders to Help them to Navigate Seasons of Unchartered Territories of Change with an Innovative Change Model for Ministry     

The presentation will equip and engage practitioners with the tools necessary to become innovative change agents. Participants will gain knowledge regarding understanding and assessing organizational culture, characteristics of innovative change agents, overcoming organizational trauma through organizational emotional process, building organizational trust, and participating in a case study on innovative change.

A native of Gastonia, North Carolina, Dr. Sadler received a BSBA in General Management from Western Carolina University, a Certificate in Church Management, Executive M.B.A. Program, Babcock Graduate School of Management, Wake Forest University, a Masters of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary and the Doctor of Ministry degree, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. Having worked in corporate America, He brings a wealth of administrative experience to any task. As an Elder in The A.M.E. Zion Church, he has served in ministry for 39 years as a Pastor and Presiding Elder.

Dr. Sadler served as the Chairman of the Central Carolinas Collective Banking Group, which consists of 40 churches with over 35,000 members and $150,000,000.00 in annual revenue. He currently serves on the national board of the Collective Empowerment Group. Dr. Sadler is the Founder, CEO and Principal Consultant of G.A.M.E. Executive International Ministry Consultants, Inc., a ministry of consultation, focusing in the areas of organizational, leadership and strategic development, where he has traveled to churches throughout the country and world providing consultation and training, serving as the Chief Consultant for Pastors and ministries ranging from 100 to over 10,000 members. He also serves as the Senior Faculty Mentor for leadership development and organization dynamics and the interim associate Dean of Doctoral Studies for the 50+ mentors at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. As a transformational leader, Dr. Sadler has birthed and developed ministerial leaders. Under his immediate leadership, he has birthed 20+ men and women into the gospel ministry and continues to mentor hundreds of senior Kingdom leaders both home and abroad.

Dr. Sadler was elected by the 50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to serve as it’s General Secretary-Auditor, whose office serves as the official repository for records, research, doctrine, and polity for the denomination. He also serves as a denominational representative to a number of ecumenical bodies, including the Pan Methodist Cooperation and is a member of the Association for Black Methodist General Officers.

http://gameministries.org | http://twitter.com/jelvinsadler

Changing the Package without Changing the Product

The Presentation will focus on how to hear the new Christian to be able to teach and minister to them more effectively. Presentation will also focus on how to seek a new appetite from God and desire a more intense word that will unlock revelations and deeper concepts for and of life. Presentation will also focus on creating spaces where sustainable practices become the norm and repeatable systems of teaching are taken more seriously.

1. Educating the New Believer

2. Holy Bread vs. Regular Bread

3. Repeatable and Sustainable Education

Reverend Armour has special training in the fields of Early Childhood Education, Conflict Resolution, Life Skills High School Training, High School counseling, Church Administration and Christian Counseling. He is married to Tanya Denny Armour; children Jadah Alana-16 and Jermaine Elijah-14.

http://newsaintluke.com | http://facebook.com/armourjermaine

New Wine, Old Wineskins: Rethinking the Content and Carriers of Christian Education

To recognize the ways teachers and teachings help or hinder your congregation's theological understanding and praxis

Can you pour Good News into a ministry context which continues to preach, teach, and uphold problematic beliefs and oppressive practices? Is it possible to offer a colonized theology to a person struggling for freedom and produce a liberated embodiment? The answer is No.

This presentation examines the theological understandings which enable unjust realities to flourish, explores the limits and possibilities of current ministry contexts in reconsidering their theological stances and encourages serious reflection of the aim and impact our Christian Education departments have on the embodied experiences of congregants. In addition, we will consider the carries, that is, our teacher's theological formation: What have they been taught? Who shapes their teaching? What kind of teacher do they hope to be?

It is time to begin interrogating the content being disseminated in our churches, as well as center voices that have been pushed to the margins in laying this new foundation. Churches striving for the freedom and thriving of their people and communities can no longer mix new ways of understanding with old ways of being and expect to make progress. As we rethink church, let us begin to ask ourselves what we are trying to preserve theologically and what must be disposed of.

Elder Jessica Ganzie hails from Detroit, Michigan. She is a graduate of Ferris State University (2011, BA) and Vanderbilt Divinity School (2018) where she earned a Master of Divinity with a certificate in Black Church Studies. Her thesis, entitled Pastoral Authority in Crisis, examines the messianic leadership of Moses, a rescued Hebrew turned Egyptian royal, called to deliver the Hebrew people out of the hand of Pharaoh and the land of Egypt. By exploring his upbringing and the likely influence of his grandfather Pharaoh’s toxic control over his own people, she correlates current understandings of the pastoral role to this “savior” complex by problematizing the centralization of Moses to the deliverance process, the conflation of human and divine authority, and the lack of checks and balances by means of spiritual superiority.

Elder Jessica is a dynamic teacher and regular contributor for Trumpet Magazine, a bi-annual publication of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Currently, she serves as Director of Christian Education at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville, TN where she was ordained to ministry under the leadership of Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel International Fellowship Joseph W. Walker III. She is called to re-examine and re-educate Christian believers generally, and the Black Church specifically through the de-colonization and reclaiming of the liberating, transformative power of the Christian faith.

She is married to her amazing college sweetheart, Darius Ganzie Sr., and mother of the most brilliant, adventurous 3-year-old in the world, Darius Ganzie Jr., affectionately known as DJ.

Leveraging Strategic Communications for Church Growth and Community Engagement

Effective Communication Drives Membership and Community Engagement

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. - Colossians 4:6

One of the biggest errors we make as church leaders is confusing saving souls with a communication strategy. While the goal of ministry is fulfilling The Great Commission, the process of making disciples relies on our ability to build relationships with our visitors, members, and the local community. The foundation of great relationships is excellent communication. In this presentation, I share how ministry leaders can leverage strategic communications for church growth and community engagement.

Makasha is a public relations and business development consultant with more than 15 years of experience in implementing communications strategies. With a keen talent for relationship building, Dorsey creates alliances with thought leaders to get her clients the exposure they need. As a former Atlanta-based marketing director, Makasha wrote copy for various entertainment websites and worked on projects for LaFace Records, Coca-Cola, and New York Life Insurance. Dorsey Group's client roster has included award-winning producers, gospel music artists, a luxury shoe brand, doctors, professional athletes, actors, and authors. When she is not garnering coveted media coverage for her clients, she serves as a minister in an Atlanta-area megachurch.

http://DGPRwire.com | http://facebook.com/makashadorsey | http://Instagram.com/makashad | http://www.linkedin.com/in/makashadorsey/ | http://www.youtube.com/makashadorsey | http://twitter.com/makasha

Building Your Christian Education Ministry From Ground Zero

Participants will learn the goals of Christian education, how to organize a local church department, and innovative strategies for Christian formation

This workshop is designed to help people understand the purpose and goals of Christian Education. Participants will leave knowing what comprises an effective church Christian Education ministry and how to strengthen the Christian formation framework of the local church. They will also learn how to develop a strategic plan for their local church Christian Education ministry.

Portia T. Jacobs is the daughter of Mrs. Connie Blanks Jacobs and the late Rev. Thomas T. Jacobs, Jr. of Riegelwood, NC. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History from East Carolina University in Greenville in May 1997 before beginning a career in education. Making the transition from classroom teacher to school counselor, Portia received a Master of Arts degree in School Counseling from North Carolina Central University, Durham, in July 2004.

A lifelong member of Mount Pleasant A.M.E. Zion Church, Riegelwood, over the years, Portia has served her beloved Zion in a number of capacities from the local church to Connectional officer. She is currently serving as Cape Fear Conference and Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District Director of Christian Education. Honored to Portia has served as the lay representative from the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District on the Connectional Budget Board since July 2008. Currently, Portia is a candidate for the office of General Secretary of Christian Education for the AME Zion Church and is running on a platform of strengthening the spiritual formation framework of our local churches.

Professionally, Portia is in her 23rd year as a North Carolina public school educator and is a member of the North Carolina Association of School Counselors, the North Carolina Association of Educators, and the National Educators Association. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc."

http://PTJforCED.com | http://facebook.com/PTJforCED/ | http://instagram.com/ptjforced/

Making Nonprofits Work

Basics on the nonprofit sector and how to design your organization for success.

This presentation will provide participants with an in depth look at the nonprofit sector and how organizations and programs can be design to build a movement or achieve a mission.

Ritney has devoted his life’s work to address some of society’s most complex and pressing social issues.  He’s passionate about helping people and organizations do the most good, for the most people, in the smartest way possible.  With expertise in strategic planning and facilitation, Ritney has a track record of working with individuals and organizations to position themselves as innovative change-makers within the communities they seek to serve. 

For over a decade, Ritney led initiatives across the country that educated youth and mobilized communities around the dangers associated with drugs and substance abuse. He’s created several innovative campaigns that have empowered others to be change agents in their individual communities. He has served as the Managing Director of Community and Youth Engagement at Truth Initiative, a Washington, DC-based public health organization and Director of Youth Advocacy at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, overseeing youth advocacy efforts nationally and serving as a key subject matter expert on youth engagement. Ritney has led faith-based outreach efforts related to statewide Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaigns, resulting in record-breaking voter turnout in Louisiana’s 2019 Gubernatorial runoff elections.

Ritney’s work has been recognized nationally, and he was recently profiled by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the top 100 BE Modern Men for 2017, a program that recognizes men of color who have done or are doing exceptional work within their communities, within their respective industries and/or globally.

http://Www.imaginegreaterscg.com | http://twitter.com/Ritneyc | http://instagram.com/Ritneyc

Fishing Differently: Accessing Multiple Sources of Capital for Ministry

Participants in our courses learn how to access multiple sources of capital (F.I.S.H.) to achieve the vision and mission of their organizations. This training is well suited for pastors and church leaders who are consumed with the day-to-day tasks of congregational ministry, yet hunger for a more expansive, outwardly focused approach to ministry. The program seeks to help gifted clergy live into a vision of leadership that reaches beyond the typical, inwardly focused, parochial patterns of congregational life.

Rev. Dr. Sidney S. Williams, Jr. is an impact investor and practical theologian, with more than 30+ years of experience in corporate and community development. From Wall Street to Martin Luther King Avenue, he has made a continuous effort of identifying where theological and marketplace frameworks interact — and more significantly, where they should interact. He has pastored churches in Cape Town, South Africa and the USA, trained pastors and church planters on three continents, holds two masters degrees and a doctorate in ministry, and has written dozens of articles and two books - Morning Meditations:100 Days to Believing You’re Successful and Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace.

http://www.crossingcapitalgroup.com | https://www.facebook.com/sidney.williams2 | http://Instagram.com/pastor_sidney | http://linkedin.com/in/rev-dr-sidney-s-williams-jr-a6674a4 | http://twitter.com/M_Meditations