sons and daughters of issacher

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“Sons and Daughters of Issachar” Prepared by: Fletcher L. Tink & Sherwin R. Rulloda Bresee Institute for Metro Ministries, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

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For the Rogers-Cunningham-Bowman Institute’s Black Leadership Symposium Colorado Springs, Colorado September 8 -12, 2004

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BIMM’s Mission: To inform, challenge, prepare and network God’s people for urban and compassionate ministries in creative and non-traditional ways.

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THE CHALLENGE: “To Understand the Times… and To Know What To Do” I Chronicles 12:32

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THE BACKGROUND: David has assumed the throne of Israel after the debacle of King Saul. Chaos, Confusion, and Resistance

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THE TASK: Residing in the City I Chronicles 11:7 Restoring the City I Chronicles 11:8 Reconciling the Factions of the City I Chronicles 12:38 Resourcing the Needs of the City I Chronicles 12:40

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Returning the Religious Symbols of the City I Chronicles 13:3 Rejecting the Evil Attacks on the City I Chronicles 14:11 Rejoicing over God’s Work in the City I Chronicles 16 Reaching out to God in Prayer I Chronicles 17:16-27

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THE PERSONNEL: A Humble Leader - David I Chronicles 11:9 Mighty Men I Chronicles 11:20-47 Warriors I Chronicles 12 “Day after Day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God” I Chronicles 12:22 Others I Chronicles 12:23-37

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v. 24 Properly Equipped “carrying shield and spear” v. 25 Prepared “ready for battle” v. 26 Courageous “brave” v. 29 Loyal v. 30 Reputable “famous in their own clans” v. 31 Responsive “designated by name to come” v. 38 Unified “of one mind” v. 39 Sharing “spent three days there with David”

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Men of Issachar I Chronicles 12:32 “Understood the Times and Knew What Israel Should Do”

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Begins with . . . Understanding the Gospel Understanding the Word Understanding Your Calling Understanding Your Mission Understanding Yourself Understanding Your Resources To Understand the Times

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However, to Understand the Times, it is also necessary to . . . Understand Your Context (“Exegeting” the World)

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Understand Your Relationships - Your Church, Your Allies Your Antagonists Understand Your Socio- Economic, Political World Understand Your Future in God’s Hands

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Some of the Characteristics of that Future Population Growth Geographic Dislocation Ghetto-ization Increased Polarization Increased Diversity

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Emerging Subcultures Community Alienation Social Displacement Role Diversification Marginalization Spiritual Turmoil and Openness Limited Material Resources Growing Human Need

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“And Knew What to Do” Bible-based Community-linked Spirit-energized Experience-informed Mentor-guided Context-responsive Future-oriented

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An Example: Rev. Johnny Ray Youngblood, Pastor of St. Paul Community Baptist Church. This Church has “…transformed one of the New York City’s most depressed areas into one that is vital, committed, and thriving. Under the leadership of its dynamic and controversial pastor. St. Paul has successfully shouldered the responsibilities for not only its members’ spiritual being but also their daily lives.

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It has built affordable housing, created school, replaced brothels and numbers joints with family stores. And through a series of innovative programs, it has rescued even those who have traditionally eluded the black church, from drug abusers to the neighborhood’s youth and men.

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Here is a church that has found the divine in the pulpit and the streets, that has tested and tempered its spirituality in activism.” (Upon This Rock: The Miracles of a Black Church by Samuel G. Freedman)

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Differences Between the Inner-City and Middle-Class Church (David Clauerbaut) 1. People versus Building 2. Basic versus Dissertational Preaching 3. Personal versus Theological Communication and Identification versus Education and Sophistication 5. Heterogeneous versus Homogeneous Community-centered versus Property-centered

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Community service versus Congregational Nurture 8. Present versus Future 9. Transience versus Stability 10. Changing versus Defined 11. Ambiguous versus Clear 12. Informal versus Formal Hierarchy 13. Anti-Status Quo versus Status Quo Redemption versus Avoidance of Guilt

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Characteristics of Successful Urban Churches (George Baybrook) Money is not Emphasized 2. Building is Not Stressed 3. Spiritual Gifts are Emphasized 4. People are Primary

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Recommendations for Growth (Willie Jemison) The message must be relevant 2. The pulpit ministry should be strong 3. Worship ought to be exciting 4. The message must be holistic 5. The pastor must be caring

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Formal Programs: Provides Accredited Degrees: Traditional Training Centers i.e. Colleges, Bible Colleges and Seminaries, On-line accredited programs Three Sources of Education:

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Non-formal Programs: Instruction often with Certification: Workshops, Seminars, Short-term Institutes, Conferences, Continuing Education, Apprenticeships and Internships, Local District Ministerial Coursework, Rogers-Cunningham Bowman Institute, etc. Local Black Church Bible Colleges

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Informal Programs: Provides Exposure and Understanding: Books, cassettes, videos, websites, volunteer services, group discussion, simulation experiences, etc.

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Emerging Opportunities Nazarene Theological Seminary (in conjunction with the Bresee Institute): Urban and Compassion Ministry Emphasis

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Informal Programs: CD training through the office of International Board of Education. Rogers-Cunningham-Bowman seminars National Black Nazarene Conference July 29-August 1, 2004 Compassionate Ministry Leadership Conference October 8-10, 2004 SCUPE conference, Chicago (March, 2005) Christian Community Development Conference November, 2003 Palcon (for all pastors) in each region June, 2004

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Nonformal Programs: Literature from Mission Strategy US/Canada Bibliographies prepared by Bresee Institute Web sites www.nazareneresearch.org www.africanamericannazarene.org www.nazarenecompassion.org www.nazcompassion.org www.newstartusa.org www.bimm.org

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Commissioned to . . Share His Blessings (12:40) Proclaim His Good News (13:2) Bring Back His Presence (13:3) To the CITY! You are the Sons and Daughters of Issachar

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“They understood the Times, and Knew What to Do!” F o r w a r d M a r c h!!