BLOG
Recent Posts & Updates
Divine Appointments
Over the past month, I have felt God’s tug on my heart to be sensitive to the Lord’s leading for me to pray and minister to those He brings across my path. I have clearly felt the Lord asking me to be more willing to step out in faith.
Opportunities to Empower
Last month, I got to go to Lansing Prison for the first time with Victor, one of the Associates we are working with in Topeka, KS. Victor leads the Spanish Call-Out, which is the weekly church service in the prison.
TUMI Student Chris
“The two most significant blessings in my life have been prison and the homeless shelter where we live now,” Chris told me as he related some of the Lord’s pilgrimage for him.
An Unlikely Minister of the Gospel
Isn’t it great that Christ calls those most unlikely to become his servants, apostles and truth-bearers? In His ministry on earth, Christ called murderers, adulterers and tax collectors. He even called women, yes women, to go and spread the Good News!
Faithful Mentoring
In 2010, I was the sponsor (madrina) for Brittany when she made her confirmation in the Catholic Church. This involved being a spiritual influence in her life during her teen years. At the time of her confirmation, she asked me to do a one-on-one Bible study and mentoring with her. Little did I know then that we would continue that for the next six years!
TUMI Student Becky Hoferer
Becky Hoferer is a single mom with a young daughter who has disabilities. Raised in the foster system from ages 11-18, Becky considers herself blessed to have had believing foster parents. But when she aged out of the system, she also drifted away from the church.
Equipping Students for Discipleship
“Miss, remember what you said about being a salt and light in the world? Well, it’s true. In my high school, people don’t know about Jesus…and I think they need people to show them there’s another way. You know a life that’s better than getting high, drinking, or sleeping with their boyfriends. My new friends are so sad, Miss!”
TUMI Student Darrel Auvenshine
I serve as the pastor of Southside City Church (SCC) of Fort Worth, Texas. The Holy Spirit led us to start SCC over eight years ago now with a specific mandate to not only be a church that ministers to the poor, but to be a church for the poor.
The First Evangel Dean School
The first Evangel Dean School was held last week. All of us at the training felt the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst. His power and presence was evident in bringing unity, clarity, and vision to the five teams assembled from cities across the United States.
David Gutierrez Prayer Letter
I want to pass along an encouraging testimony from TUMI Equipping Leaders – Los Angeles.
Jordan King Prayer Letter
I was driving through the southeast side of Wichita a few days ago in a neighborhood called Plainview. It was eye opening to see the poverty and lack of churches in the area.
Resourcing Leaders in Dallas
The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) of Dallas offers classes in three different locations.
Unshakable Kingdom, Unwavering Warrior
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the East Region Siafu Men’s Retreat. World Impact puts on these retreats for men in each of our three regions every fall.
Faces of World Impact Topeka
This is such an exciting time to be in urban ministry. That isn’t to say that it is an easy time, but it is a time when opportunities are endless.
Real Revolutionary Hip Hop
I saw the movie Straight Outta Compton last weekend. In the late ′80s and early ′90s many believe that music and pop culture were revolutionized by the rap group NWA as they provided a stronger voice for the hip hop generation.
Facilitating Urban Leadership Training
TUMI’s stated purpose is to equip leaders for the urban church, especially among the poor, to advance the Kingdom of God.
Ministry Support and Validation
Ten years ago I started a church within the housing projects of Flatbush Gardens in Brooklyn, NY. My goal was to be a father to the fatherless, serving through community outreaches and identifying and equipping leaders through the preaching and teaching of the gospel.
Addicted to Chaos
When working with men and women who have spent years in the cycle of addiction, it is common to hear them say that they are “addicted to chaos.” Any kind of success feels uncomfortable, so they quickly sabotage their circumstances in order to move back to a place of disorder.
