Workshops
Friday – 2:50 pm – 4:00 pm
Saturday – 9:00 am – 10:15 am
“In the Mix of Multicultural Ministry: Strategic Vision, Resources and Models for Latino/Hispanic New Church Development”
Friday only: Paine Science Building 311
- Steve Strand, Pastor and Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Wesleyan Church
- Leslie Cogorno works with youth ministry and compassionate outreach in Hispanic churches in NJ and PA
- Casper Farrow, pastor of Grace Community Church, Buffalo, NY
As a multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual nation, the United States has a population one third racial ethnic and more than 15% Hispanic. Although English is the national language, more than 100 languages are now spoken, with Spanish the second most prevalent. Latino/a perspective in its rich diversity, brings an essential ingredient of multicultural bilingual experience to ministry in the 21st century. As a united Church in varied forms, Hispanic congregations, bilingual multicultural congregations and English-speaking partner congregations all contribute to the changing ministry mosaic. Héctor Rodriguez expresses well what can be offered, “ For immigrants in the United States, the church can become an extended family, a place of refuge, a linguistic and cultural center of understanding, a place to find help that addresses fears, insecurities, conflicts and needs, and a place of encounter with Jesus Christ.” To understand church planting within the Hispanic/Latino context, it’s vital to catch cultural cues, recognize the diversity of needs, and embrace a culturally appropriate paradigm. Leaders of Hispanic ministries from a variety of denominations have met to discuss these issues as well as the challenges of immigration, and the changing needs in second and third generation ministry. This seminar will communicate some of the most recent ministry approaches to the opportunities brought by the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S.
Steve Strand serves as a pastor and Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Wesleyan Church. He lived for six years in Central America where he worked with his wife Ruth in church planting, theological education and relief and development. Leslie Corgono works with youth ministry and compassionate outreach in Hispanic churches which her father oversees in NJ and PA. Casper Farrow serves as pastor of Grace Community Church on Buffalo’s Westside with a building shared by Hispanic and refugee congregations.
“The Global Musicianship Imperative”
Friday only: Center for Arts, Instrument Rehearsal Hall (134)
- Mark Hijleh, Professor of Music and Chair of the Integrative Studies Department, Houghton College
To have a positive and productive cultural impact on our 21st-century world, participants need to be prepared for flexibility and global synthesis in the arts. This is especially true for Christians, to whom the burgeoning global Church calls both in and out of worship. As a result, a significant rethinking of how the arts are presented and taught is in order. This workshop focuses specifically on the musical implications of global culture, outlining both the underlying nature of the need for reform and some ideas on how to approach solutions. The aims are to broaden participants’ perspectives on the question of music in a 21st-century global context, including implications specific to Christian culture, and to provide a few direct experiences with music in such a context. The workshop is appropriate for all NCMSLC participants, and especially those called to leadership in education, ministry and/or the arts. An extensive musical background is not required; though participants will be called on to do some group musical activities.
Mark Hijleh, Professor of Music and Chair of the Integrative Studies department at Houghton College, holds degrees in music composition and world music from William Jewell College, Ithaca College, the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Sheffield (UK). A student of the Japanese shakuhachi (bamboo flute), he is the director of Houghton’s new interdisciplinary Master of Arts program in World Music with Theology and Intercultural Studies. Hijleh is the author of “The Music of Jesus: From Composition to Koinonia,” and is currently writing a book on music theory that substantially incorporates globalized musical perspectives and skills.
“Living in Color”
Friday: Chamberlain Center 227
Saturday: Chamberlain Center 329
- Charles Robinson, Founder of The Red Road ministry and Compassion International Speaker
In Genesis we have an example of perfect unity expressed through great diversity, as displayed by the different types of animals, plants, etc. that Creator made. Fast-forward to Revelation 7:9 and we see the same theme in “every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” If God’s perfect kingdom is multicultural, why do we want to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy it? This interactive workshop will explore what multicultural unity can look like today, as well as examining do’s and don’ts to make it happen. As a specific example, we’ll look at our Native American people, who have had hundreds of years of poor examples of paternalistic missionary efforts. Not only have these efforts stripped us of our cultures, languages, and traditional lifestyles, but they’ve resulted in a mere 3-5% of Native people becoming followers of Jesus. It’s time to celebrate the cultures that Creator gave each one of us without assuming one is better than another. It’s time to stop living in Black and White . . . and Live In Color!
Charles Robinson is a member
of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and has a passion to teach others
about Native American culture. He has served on the Board of
Directors for the Tennessee Indian Education Association and travels
to reservations and Native communities to meet with tribal leaders
regarding the challenges facing Native people in the 21st Century.
Charles has a strong awareness for the importance of cultural
identity within various people groups. He has played professional
basketball in
“Pharisees or Good Samaritans: the Church and Violence against Women”
Saturday only: Chamberlain Center 123
- Kristina LaCelle-Peterson, PhD, Professor and Interim Chair of the Religion and Philosophy Department, Houghton College
This workshop will raise the question: why is the church silent about gender injustice in this country and around the world? This is not simply about pay inequity that persists here (which in itself has devastating consequences particularly for families headed by single-parent mothers), but about the objectification of women in mainstream media (reducing their value to their sexiness) and in the ever-expanding pornography industry. The most extreme result of disrespecting and devaluing women is seen in the high rates of rape and other violent crimes against women, both here and abroad. These are so common they’re hardly even newsworthy and Christians tend to omit these things from their lists of societal ills.
The workshop will discuss some of these issues, including statistics to help give a picture of the magnitude of the problem, before turning to theology. Christian theology generally affirms men’s and women’s equal worth because of being made in the image of God and being equally the objects of God’s love in redemption. The goal is that attendees of the workshop will want to apply this theology to their daily lives by embracing a no tolerance policy with regard to gender violence in their own relationships and by working constructively against these tendencies in the broader culture.
“Where is God in the Black Community?”
Friday and Saturday: Chamberlain Center 125
- Leroy Barber, President of Mission Year and Pastor of Community Fellowships Church, Atlanta, GA
In this thought-provoking workshop, Leroy Barber shares his experiences with many black churches nationwide that have become disconnected from their local community, becoming predominately commuter churches located in distant, urban neighborhoods. He issues a call to reconnect with history and an inspiring vision of a redefinition of local mission. Leroy urges a new view of local and foreign missions and outreach in the black church that focuses on asset-based creativity and empowerment in a multi-generational and multi-ethnic environment. He also offers a picture of new trends in local urban ministry including coffee shops, law firms, health centers, and other cutting-edge expressions of God’s love in the heart of the city. He addresses the discussion of the partnership of faith and justice work. The target audience of this conversation is all young Christian leaders as the current trends ensure that they will be a part of multicultural ministry teams in the future. One intended outcome of the presentation is to inspire young Christians of color towards a view of missions and outreach that is creative and potentially local.
Leroy Barber has dedicated more than 20 years to eradicating poverty, confronting homelessness, restoring local neighborhoods, healing racism, and living what Dr. King called “the beloved community.” Leroy starts projects that shape society. In 1990, burdened by the plight of Philadelphia’s homeless, he founded Restoration Ministries to serve homeless families and children living on the streets. In 1997, he joined FCS Urban Ministries to serve as the founding Director of Atlanta Youth Academies, a private elementary school that provides quality Christian education for low-income families in the inner city.
He is currently the President of Mission Year, a national urban initiative training adults 18 and over in missional and communal living for one year of their lives. Team members move into an urban community to partner with a local church, volunteer at a community organization, and reach out to their neighbors. Rev. Barber is also the Pastor of a church plant, Community Fellowships Church and is on the boards of Atlanta Youth Academy and DOOR. Leroy was chosen as a contributor to the ground-breaking book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Thinks about Christianity and Why It Matters. He recently wrote his first book New Neighbor: an Invitation to Join Beloved Community. Leroy is married to Donna and together they have three children, Jessica, Joshua and Joel.
“Enlarging Your World from Home”
Friday only: Chamberlain Center 329
- James Zoller, Professor of Writing and Literature, Houghton College
This workshop aims to address the issue of how one might make a positive difference by listening, looking, and contemplating what we might call "otherness" in our midst. The workshop will argue that one can become a clear influence for the better simply by encouraging people to pay attention to "other" voices and to think about where those voices are coming from and why they might be important. One can do this without leaving home, without hitting the picket line, without political or military power, without abandoning one's faith, and without being obnoxious.
To address this issue of making a difference, the workshop will tell the story of Dr. Zoller’s own work at Houghton teaching middle-class white kids from conservative Christian homes and churches. Dr. Zoller has developed and taught many areas that were previously ignored, including Literature by Women, African American Literature, The Immigrant Experience in American Literature, the Beat Writers, and Banned Books: A Look at Censorship.
“The Diversity ‘Line’"
Friday only: Chamberlain Center 325
- Matthew Webb, PhD, Assistant Athletic Director & Men’s Soccer Coach, Houghton College
- Brad Zarges, Assistant Athletic Director & Men’s Basketball Coach, Houghton College
This workshop is an experiential exercise where participants simulate being both in a majority and a minority group. A group discussion will follow dealing with feelings from the exercise, as well as a broader discussion about diversity being about more than just the obvious issues (such as ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc.), but also about religion, socio-economic status, family dynamics, education, etc. The workshop will conclude with a discussion about primary vs. secondary traits as well as a discussion about inclusivity and exclusivity.
“Developing Change Agents”
Friday only: Paine Science Building 214
- Sharra Hynes, PhD, Vice President of Student Life, Houghton College
Leadership and change often go hand-in-hand. However, not all leaders are necessarily comfortable with initiating change and may find this to be the most difficult aspect of serving as a leader. This session will explore how leaders can learn to become more effective at managing change within a group or organization. Particular attention will be given to the experience of First Generation College Students who have demonstrated an ability to initiate change within their family by their very decision to attend college. All are invited to attend, but this session may be particularly helpful for Presidents and Advisors of student organizations who are charged with helping students develop as leaders.
Sharra Hynes serves as the
Vice President of Student Life at Houghton College.
She oversees the co-curricular programs of the college as
well as many essential student services.
Prior to joining the Houghton staff, Sharra worked at Texas
A&M University in their Department of Student Activities.
She specialized there in Student Leadership Development.
While working at Texas A&M, Sharra also pursued a PhD in
Higher Education Administration.
She completed this degree last year.
“Equipping Christians to Engage Poor and Hungry People in a Cross-Cultural Context”
Friday only: Paine Science Building 116
- Alicia Walmus Clifton, Director of Health and Family Services, Jericho Road Ministries, Buffalo, NY
The purpose of this workshop is to critically reflect on our place in society, to provide a Biblical basis for respecting the humanity of those in poverty in a cross-cultural context, and, in small part, to provide a potential avenue for engagement through Bread for the World. We will create an awareness of privilege, including both class and race. Scripture will be used to determine how to engage and respect the humanity of the “least of these,” such as widows, orphans, and immigrants. We will discuss why cross cultural preparation is critical. Finally, a brief overview of the organization Bread for the World will be presented and how one can connect with them to put these ideas into practice.
Alicia Walmus Clifton is the Director of Health and Family Services at Jericho Road Ministries, which facilitates the self-empowerment of refugees and others in poverty in Buffalo, NY. She majored in Intercultural Studies with a concentration in Linguistics at Houghton College. Alicia is widely traveled and is married to a third-culture kid from Taiwan. Her future goals include serving in the intersection of community development and conflict resolution.
"Dialectic of a White Girl in a Multicultural World”
Saturday only: Library 303
- Alicia Walmus Clifton, Director of Health and Family Services, Jericho Road Ministries, Buffalo, NY
The purpose of this workshop is to provide students with a number of synthesized approaches to serving, working and living with people from other cultures. We will inspect our own cultural biases and counter this with a possible place for Westerners in global work and a lesson in true respect. This will be from the perspective of development, but will be applicable in other settings. The workshop will give a critical response to our current Christian thinking on serving the world and interacting with those of other cultures. The major points will include a) the process is the goal: a thorough vetting of a Western, linear approach to bettering the world; b) you have a voice: a look into the role of a facilitator and a possible place for Westerners in global work and service even when the work seems like it would be better done by indigenous people; c) your respect is patronizing: several real-life examples of how condescending we can be without realizing it and how to avoid it.
Alicia Walmus Clifton is the Director of Health and Family Services at Jericho Road Ministries, which facilitates the self-empowerment of refugees and others in poverty in Buffalo, NY. She majored in Intercultural Studies with a concentration in Linguistics at Houghton College. Alicia is widely traveled and is married to a third-culture kid from Taiwan. Her future goals include serving in the intersection of community development and conflict resolution.
“Discovering and Adjusting Your Social Style for Effective Leadership”
Saturday only: Chamberlain Center 325
- David Fenrick, PhD, Director of Intercultural Unity and Professor of Intercultural Studies, Northwestern College, St. Paul, MN
If all people acted and responded in the same ways, then leading and managing teams would be fairly easy. But the reality is that people have many different ways of acting and responding, and many different needs. As a leader, part of your job is to use versatility to better suit the needs of the individuals and teams you are leading and managing. You must learn to assess and adapt to people’s social styles. Understanding people's patterns of behavior reflected in social interactions - those things people say and do, and those things that others can observe - is critical for effective communication. This interactive workshop will provide you with assessment tools used by Fortune 500 companies for discovering your own "social style" and the social style of the people you will lead. In this workshop, you will review four different social styles and practice the necessary skills to lead and manage people with different social styles.
David Fenrick is the Director of Intercultural Unity for the Office of Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and Professor of Intercultural Studies at Northwestern College, St. Paul, MN. He was formerly the Director of Program Development and Adjunct Professor with the Center for Global Education at Augsburg College. He has a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary, M.A. from Luther Seminary, and B.A. from Gordon College. He also served as a United Methodist minister, receiving Excellence in Ministry Awards from both the Commission on Race and Religion, and the Board of Global Ministry. David serves on the Advisory Board for World Relief Minnesota.
“Multicultural Mission Trips: A Working Model”
Saturday only: Library 323
- Mateo Hess, MK from Latin America, Chair of Youth Association, and public school teacher, Rochester, NY
This workshop will give a brief overview of the First Spanish Christian Church’s “Ecuador 2008” mission trip. We will address issues in cross-cultural mission and will present a working model for integrating team members from various cultures and denominational groups. A brief PowerPoint presentation, handouts, and discussion will give participants ideas and open their eyes to issues in organizing short-term youth mission trips. Relevant “best practices”, leadership models, church-mission relationships, language and cultural dynamics will be presented. Mateo will share from his experience of leading fourteen teams to Colombia and Ecuador, the most recent of which included Colombians from Bogota and Medellin, as well as Chinese, African-Americans, Latinos and Caucasian Americans from Western New York. Team leaders built on confianza (trust) of many years, their orientation experience (urban and rural retreats), cross-denominational and cross-racial church visits, and their deep love of Jesus. Both student leaders and faculty/staff advisors who desire ideas, models, and connections for making successful multicultural mission trips are invited to attend.
Mateo Hess was born and raised in Latin America. Since his days as a student at Houghton College, Mateo has used his summers to stay connected to Ecuador and Colombia through family and mission trips. Mateo’s role as public school teacher, member in a Latino congregation, and family man have given him credibility in the urban Rochester community. Mateo began his Rochester life after student teaching as a college student 23 years ago. Besides teaching in the bilingual program of the Rochester City School District, Mateo chairs the coordinating team of the Youth Association which organizes local events and mission trips to Colombia and Ecuador.
