Why College Ministry? An Interview with Debbie Moreno

As a Christian teen that did not walk away from the church in college, you might say Debbie Moreno beat the odds. In fact, Moreno not only stayed, she led in college student ministry both in her local church and on her campus with CRU. Attending a university in her home city of Miami, Florida allowed Moreno to stay rooted in her home and spiritual family. Unfortunately, Moreno’s story is not a common one.

In 2019, Lifeway Research released a study entitled Church Dropouts: Reasons Young Adults Stay or Go between ages 18-22. This research states that an alarming 66% of American young adults who once regularly attended church, drop out for at least a year between ages 18-22[1] The percentage of students leaving the church increases as they age—69% attending church at age 17, 58% at age 18, and 40% at age 19. Significantly, 47% of these students shared that moving to college played a role in their transition out of church.

While reasons college students struggle to connect to the local church are numerous, active efforts to intentionally reach and disciple this next generation of believers are harder to find. This ministerial issue is compounded by a church/parachurch divide, one commonly found in minority, rural, or small urban churches. Moreno continues in ministry to college students today and is committed to bridging this divide between the local church and parachurch ministries, like CRU, that serve faithfully on college and university campuses globally. With colleges students cautiously returning to school this month, or completing their coursework online from home, I sat down with Moreno to ask why the church should care about ministry to these young adults and how the Hispanic church is uniquely equipped to step in.

Hungry to Belong

Moreno did not hold back when I asked her why college ministry matters:  “It is a crucial time in someone’s life. It’s when they are on their own. Not everyone is on their own, because some stay home and go to a local college or university. But in the sense that your parents are no longer forcing you to go to church or youth group. It is the age when you are deciding ‘what do I believe and what do I want my life to be about.’”[2] Typical college students bridge two stages of development.[3] The first is identity vs. confusion, which prompts the “Who am I?” question. The second stage is intimacy vs. isolation, which causes young adults to ask: “Am I alone or am I loved?” These developmental questions occur in this season as students transition from home to college, from a secure friend group to a new friend group.

Hearing the classic trope, “students lose their faith in college,” ministry leaders may be tempted to focus on correct belief by providing biblical teaching or theological training for students. While this knowledge is important, Moreno points out this is not the primary need. “College students are hungry to belong. Even if they don’t really believe in God or have any beliefs, just the idea of a group of people pursuing them is enough for them to be like, ‘I want to be part of this. I don’t know what is going on, but these people want me, and I am being pursued.’ It is a key moment to love.”  Could we be missing an opportunity to invest in college students lives by jumping to belief before creating the space for belonging?

Culturally Equipped to Create

Minority churches, small urban churches, and rural churches might not realize how well equipped they are already to step into college ministry. If creating space for belonging is key, who better to do that than churches who are culturally constructed around family and hospitality? This is what Moreno found true of her Hispanic church, and the reason her church’s college ministry thrived.  She described ministry meetings in the home of a ministry leader, eating food and talking until 1am: “It’s very family like—come into our home and just do life with us. Be with our family and become a family.”  While this level of investment can occur in any church culture, there is a unique warmth and home centeredness found in Hispanic congregations, which creates a natural sense of family for college students searching for belonging.  “What I have noticed,” Moreno observed, “Is that it not only helps [engage] Hispanics but is refreshing to students of all different cultures. [They think,] ‘You really do open up your house at any time of the day. You really want to feed me.’ It is a warm and inviting culture, that can relate to other cultures as well.” This is true especially for other minority cultures. For international students, living far from their communities of origin, the warmth of Hispanic culture may provide a taste of home.

Hispanic churches also offer a cross generational church family experience that students may not find in larger urban churches. Moreno fondly shared of attending birthday parties as a student and being welcomed into the familia of a church member. These events exposed her to abuelos and abuelas, tios and tias—loving church family of all ages, relationships she might not have had access to otherwise.

A Critical Partnership

We cannot overlook the churches that do step into college student ministry. These ministry leaders see the need to create a student ministry where young adults have a place to land on Sunday morning, when home on break or weekly if they stay local. However, that is often where these ministries stop—at the door of the church or the home of the ministry leader. Outreach and discipleship of students at the local college or university is left to the parachurch organizations, like CRU.

Moreno sensed a divide between these two ministries when she was a student, one that she continues to see today. “A lot of Hispanic churches I know are small, they do not have a lot of people to send out [to campuses],” Moreno explained, pointing to lack of resources as a contributor to the divide. Another dynamic is a cultural and generational one. Many Hispanic church leaders are first generation. Stepping on a college campus to meet students for coffee or lead outreach events could present a variety of barriers, including language, education, age, and cultural differences. For first generation pastors, elders, and deacons, going to campus may be intimidating, and focusing on the students who make it into the church doors is easier, if not safer.

This is exactly why Moreno is so passionate about partnership: “Partner with what is already happening [on your college campus]. Literally join the work! Ask ‘how can we help and what can we provide?’” By working with ministry leaders in already existing campus ministries, local church leaders can slowly work through any felt barriers and fill existing needs, rather than starting from scratch. Local church leaders can provide much needed, long term support to parachurch ministry leaders, helping them know they are not alone in ministry. Most importantly, connecting students to local churches is critical. Parachurch ministries, while strong in outreach and life-on-life discipleship, cannot fill the role of church family or equip students with skills to be a participatory member of the local body. With a time stamp of four years, students will eventually phase out of an on-campus student ministry. Whether returning home or staying in their university town, being welcomed into and loved by a local body of believers provides the foundation of a lifelong relationship to the church.

A Final Word

World Outspoken exists to equip the church for cultural change. So, this last question for Moreno was critical for you, our readers:

“Moreno, if you could sit down with Hispanic ministry leaders in the local church, what would you like to say?”

“They have so much to offer college students!” she stated strongly. “They are naturally gifted in a way that naturally draws in college students. These are future leaders that we are talking about and students who are going to make an impact on the future of this country and the future of other countries. They are at the age where we get to disciple and equip the future.”

As we look at the changing world around us and the divisive cultural climate in which we minister, a fear for the future of the church’s faithfulness to God rises to the surface. Yet Moreno’s exhortation spurs us to action. It is possible the future faithfulness of the church can be further secured through pursuing partnership and creating space for college students to belong. 

Partner with Debbie Moreno

If you want to support the work of ministering to college students, join Debbie in creating spaces of belonging for college students. Learn more, here.

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About Emily C. Alexander

A first generation college graduate of a rural working class family, Emily C. Alexander recently completed her undergraduate degree in Ministry to Women at the Moody Bible Institute. Emily lives in Chicago where she enjoys long walks admiring architecture and pondering theological and sociological issues. Her hope is to impact the lives of women and the flourishing of the church through thoughtful theological engagement.

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Footnotes

[1] https://lifewayresearch.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults/

[2] Deborah Moreno, interview, August 9, 2020.

[3] To learn more about Erik Erikson’s stages of psycho-social development, read: https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740

Latino, Come Home

“When they leave our churches, they think it’s the language, but it’s [that] white does it better.”[1]

White does it better.

My breath caught at the statement. I glanced out the window of the Panera I sat in. Not even the warm Florida sunshine could touch the sense of burden I felt. I glanced at my skin, white. I thought about the lives and ministries of two of my closest friends. Their skin—brown. That’s when I knew that the work of Mission Talk and the passion in Agustin Quiles’ voice was critical to the Church, and I needed to get behind it.

Founded in 2016, Mission Talk is an annual gathering of Latino/a young adult church and ministry leaders. At its heart, Mission Talk is a network designed to intentionally equip the Hispanic church for community transformation and justice ministry. When you enter the Mission Talk conference, you will see Latino practitioners teaching Latino leaders. Latino founded, Latino hosted, Latino led —culture to culture, this ministry is equipping the Hispanic church to be the Church within its unique cultural context.

Mission Talk founder, Agustin Quiles, is a Latino ministry practitioner who caught a vision for the flourishing of his community. Born in Puerto Rico, Quiles moved to New York City in grade school, where he was one of five children raised by a single mother. Quiles got involved in ministry from a young age, which began shaping the passion he has today for church and ministry leaders within his cultural community. “I am a product of the Latino community and its disadvantages,” he explained as we chatted about the conception of Mission Talk. His awareness of his own culture, its strengths and weaknesses, informs his approach to ministry. Not only has Quiles identified a clear need within the Hispanic church, but with over a decade of boots on the ground ministry experience in Hispanic communities, he is prepared to meet the need he sees.

A Changing Landscape

Latino evangelicalism is receiving increasing attention in church studies, theology, and national religious conversation. Public Radio International reported last summer that evangelicalism in the US is no longer monolithic, of one culture (white), but that Latinos are the “fastest growing group of evangelicals.”[2] Pew Research data from the “Religious Landscape Study” supports this statement. This study compares data of Evangelical Protestant’s ethnic identifications from 2007 and 2014. As the chart outlines, in those years the evangelical Latino population grew by 4%, while the white evangelical population dropped.[3]

Racial and ethnic composition among Evangelical Protestants // Pew Research Center

With growth comes change. Millennials and Generation X Latino/as find themselves in an in-between world. Pew Research suggests that second generation Latinos are less likely to teach their children Spanish[4] and are often more educated than their parents.[5] A generation or two removed from their immigrant parents and grandparents these young adults tend to assimilate to white culture more than the previous generation. Quiles often hears from young adults, “We’re not Latinos and we’re not Americans.” This identity ambiguity leads Latino young adults to worship outside of their cultural communities, a choice which leaves a devastating gap in the Hispanic church. “A lot of Latinos are assimilating too much,” Quiles shared. “When they leave our churches, they think it’s the language, but it’s [that] white does it better.” Since the white church has resources, he points out, Latino young people leave their cultural places of worship: “[There is a] narrative, [that] they don't fit in in the churches they grew up in, so they [must]  fit into white church culture.”

A Changing Ministry

The Hispanic church is not only experiencing generational change, but changes in ministry models. Historically, the Hispanic church has elevated preaching and singing ministry as primary, and when pursuing methods of outreach, she typically focuses on one’s relationship with Christ and compassion work, not community transformation and justice through policy reform or governmental involvement. However, the trend towards community transformation and justice, which Mission Talk emphasizes, is not completely unanticipated.

In the early 2000’s one renowned Latino pastor, spoke of an “emerging generation of Hispanic American Evangelicals.”[6] Contrary from the past, this kind of “new evangelical” would come from the “barrios of L.A. and the housing projects in Chicago more than from rural America.”[7] This evangelical would be a “hybrid” of sorts, a blend of Billy Graham and Martin Luther King Jr., specifically Hispanic, who would find a middle ground, a space of both righteousness and justice. This pastor envisioned:

“Forging the twin themes of righteousness and justice – not “either/or” – these evangelicals embrace a Kingdom Culture Biblical worldview. It has ramifications for social policy. They stand committed to eradicating al-Qaeda as long as we equally commit ourselves to eradicating AIDS … On cultural issues, the Graham-King hybrid generation stands unequivocally as a vigorous pro-life movement that extends from womb to tomb. This new pro-life movement does not regard health care, education, and poverty-alleviation as secondary issues to sanctity-of-life and marriage but rather as top-tier extensions of a truly pro-life platform.”[8]

The Hispanic church this church leader and others saw emerging is the Hispanic church of today. Evangelicalism is paying attention as the Hispanic church leads the way between the polarity which divides Western Christianity. Community transformation and justice matter to the Hispanic church, as does righteousness and right theology. However, the question of Latino young adults remains unanswered. Will this dynamic part of the Body of Christ lose its cultural bearings and its young people through white church integration? Does Latin identity matter for these believers?  Quiles and the Mission Talk team are fighting fiercely to say yes, identity matters.   

Creating a New Way

The work of Mission Talk is one of space making. Meeting young adult leaders at a variety of stages in their journey of grappling with Hispanic identity, Mission Talk creates a space for these ministry leaders to reconnect with their cultural roots and rediscover the beauty in what it means to be Latino/a. “Reinforcing their identity as Latinos is crucial and key to this conference,” Quiles explained, sharing that at the conference they have salsa and merengue, infusing the experience with Latino culture through music, dance, and retelling of history.

After creating a space, Mission Talk exposes and educates church and ministry leaders to Latino derived resources. The goal is to facilitate the movement from compassion-based outreach to community transformation/justice-based work. This is accomplished primarily through bringing in Latino/a practitioners, men and women of God who are in the trenches of ministry to Hispanic communities throughout the world, bringing about community transformation and justice for the sake of the gospel. “We bring practitioners,” Quiles emphasized, “not celebrities.” These individuals are experienced and respected in all kinds of justice ministries in Hispanic communities, addressing issues such as poverty, hunger, immigration, mass incarceration, human trafficking, social entrepreneurship, ethnic diversity, and racial reconciliation, to name a few. Stepping beyond mere exposure to ideas, these practitioners train and equip conference attendees for the work, teaching biblical theology, ministry models, and ministry skills for Latino/as to return to their native communities and minister well.

As I listened intently to Quiles share his heart for the Hispanic church, I came away challenged. He desires to welcome Latino/as home, for the gap that was created in the Hispanic church to be filled by its own. Rather than relying on Anglo church resources and culture, he champions the Hispanic church for what it is, a dynamic and influential part of the Body of Christ that must be functional for the Church at large to effectively operate.  “What I see,” he concluded, “is raising thousands of young people who are able to shape the church through culture.”

For the Latino/a believer, Quiles extends a call to re-engage. While acknowledging the challenge and pain of assimilation and cultural ambiguity, he calls the Hispanic church home. As an Anglo believer, Quiles gave me a personal challenge: “Help remind us that God made us Latino for a purpose.” Doesn’t this statement itself hold the key to the strength of the historical, global, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, cross socio-economic, two gendered church? The key is the sovereignty of our God over us. With intent, He made each individual and placed them within a time and culture. It is up to us to steward our cultural identities in a way that preaches the gospel—and to help each other do the same.

About Emily C. Alexander

A first generation college graduate of a rural working class family, Emily C. Alexander recently completed her undergraduate degree in Ministry to Women at the Moody Bible Institute. Emily lives in Chicago where she enjoys long walks admiring architecture and pondering theological and sociological issues. Her hope is to impact the lives of women and the flourishing of the church through thoughtful theological engagement.

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Footnotes

[1] Agustin Quiles, interview, March 7, 2020.

[2] “Megachurches, Home Churches, Podcasts: American Evangelicals Are ‘Not a Monolith,’” Public Radio International, accessed April 1, 2020, https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-08-14/megachurches-home-churches-podcasts-american-evangelicals-are-not-monolith

[3] “Evangelical Protestants - Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics,” Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project (blog), accessed April 1, 2020, https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/evangelical-protestant/#racial-and-ethnic-composition-trend

[4] “Hispanic Parents’ Spanish Use with Children Falls as Generations Pass,” Pew Research Center (blog), accessed April 1, 2020, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/02/most-hispanic-parents-speak-spanish-to-their-children-but-this-is-less-the-case-in-later-immigrant-generations/

[5] “How the U.S. Hispanic Population Is Changing,” Pew Research Center (blog), accessed April 1, 2020, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/09/18/how-the-u-s-hispanic-population-is-changing/

[6] “The Latino Transformation of American Evangelicalism | Reflections,” accessed April 1, 2020, https://reflections.yale.edu/article/who-my-neighbor-facing-immigration/latino-transformation-american-evangelicalism

[7] Rodriguez, 2008.

[8] Rodriguez, 2008.

Why Can't We Sing "Normal" Worship?

Looking back at 50 years of ministry, Tim Keller says this about the Western church: “While many Christian leaders were bemoaning the cultural changes, Western churches continued to minister as before – creating an environment in which only traditional and conservative people would feel comfortable … All they preached and practiced assumed they were still in the Christian West, but the Christian West was vanishing.”[1] The church got stuck moving to the same rhythms, singing the same songs, year after year until the world around them no longer understood the melody. Today, as non-Hispanic whites already are less than 50 percent of the youth population in 632 of America’s 3,142 counties, worship leaders like Sandra Van Opstal introduce us to The Next Worship.

This is not about updating the playlist for relevancy or belittling the old hymn. It is about worship that captures the full picture of God’s Church, His mestizo people. How do we worship God in a diverse world? Should a monocultural church really sing songs in different languages? What forms of leadership do we need to make the diversity of the Church plain in our context? What if we don’t have the musicians to pull this off? We explore these questions and more with your host Emanuel Padilla and our guest, author Sandra Maria Van Opstal.

About Sandra Maria Van Opstal

Sandra Maria Van Opstal

Sandra Maria Van Opstal, a second-generation Latina, is co-founder and Executive Director of Chasing Justice and lives on the west-side of Chicago with her husband and two boys. She is a preacher, liturgist and activist reimagining the intersection of worship and justice. Sandra served with Urbana Missions Conference, Chicago Urban Program, and Latino National Leadership Team (LaFe) of InterVarsity. Sandra’s influence has also reached many others through preaching globally on topics such as worship and formation, justice, racial identity and reconciliation. Sandra currently serves as Content Director for the Justice Conference, is a board member for CCDA and holds a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Her most recent books include Still Evangelical and The Next Worship.

Footnote

[1] Timothy Keller, Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City, 8.9.2012 edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), p. 253.

The Hospitality That Saved My Neighbor

In 2015, over one million refugees arrived to Greece, a country roughly the size of Alabama. Just 16,000 kilometers from Turkey, Greece is a gateway for refugees escaping oppressive governments, life-threatening crises, and violent conflicts in their home countries. Upon arrival, however, they are confronted by the reality of a crippled economy and a limited infrastructure that cannot meet basic needs like food, housing, and medical attention. And things only became more strained as the refugee crisis reached new heights. According to recent UN estimates, there are 22.5 million refugees globally. In a country like Greece, the solutions had to come from somewhere beyond government aid programs.

In light of these realities, the evangelical community responded with remarkable speed. On today’s episode of The Feature we have a conversation with Matt Gulley, the director of Mercy Ministries, and discuss how his team responded by establishing hospitality centers, in some cases even having refugees in their homes. In 2018 alone, Mercy Ministries served more than 40,000 meals and provided medical services to 2,500 people.

One Mercy Ministries staffer wrote, “The trauma of escaping from war and conflict-torn countries brings people to Greece with a great desire for a new way of life.” In this episode, you’ll also here from Masoud Gormani. Masoud is from Afghanistan and his story is an inspiration. You’ll only hear parts of it referenced in our conversation since this was recorded during the Anastasi conference. Masoud escaped Afghanistan after seeing the threat radical groups presented to his family; he fled to Turkey. Not long after, he realized his family was still not safe, so they got on a boat for Greece. During the voyage, his son nearly drowned, so when he arrived in Greece, he was desperate. Christians attached to Mercy Ministries took him and his family in. When he realized they were believers, Masoud said he was alarmed. Being a Muslim, he’d heard stories of how Christians demanded conversion in exchange for their aid, but these believers demanded nothing. They cared for his family. Offered meals; taught him Greek. After months, he knew they had Bible studies and prayed before meals, but they never required this of him. Eventually, his curiosity about this led him to ask why nothing was demanded in exchange for their help. They shared the story of Jesus and now Masoud is a believer and pastor of a refugee church showing the same hospitality that was once shown to him.

Crises like these force the Christian community to wrestle with the connection between the gospel and human needs. One Greek pastor, writing about the movements in Athens, saw two types of responses from the church. He wrote, “At one end of the spectrum is the fundamentalist trend, which views the refugees chiefly as objects of evangelism, only to be clothed or fed if it leads to an opportunity to share the gospel. At the other end is the social gospel trend, which views sharing bread already as sharing Christ and considers verbal gospel proclamation unnecessary and even undesirable.”

What you are about to hear is a conversation with Masoud and Matt on this question. This was recorded during our time in Greece at the Anastasi conference, so you’ll hear some ambient sounds and some fluctuations in our voices. We apologize about that in advance, and we’re confident the conversation will still be enriching. In a world needing a story that makes the city whole, Matt and Masoud share compelling testimonies of integration, hospitality, and grace.

If you would like to financially partner with Mercy Ministries, please follow this link:

https://hellenicministries.org/give

For more information or ways to get involved please send us an email at info@hellenicministries.org.

MLB Exec on using his platform to transform Communities

There is a short film about a young, Dominican man named Miguel “Sugar” Santos who moves to Iowa to play in the minor leagues. He dreamed the dream of many young Caribbean-Latino young men; all he wanted was to be a professional baseball player. However, the movie highlights the challenges of being an international player, and the ending is a bleak reality-check of the more likely outcome. Sugar never makes it big, and the audience last sees him playing pickup baseball in an amateur league. Few “Sugars” make it to the minor leagues, and even fewer make it into the MLB. Because of this, some people question Major League Baseball’s relationship with Latin-American countries like the Dominican Republic. Is the MLB good for Latin America?

We had the opportunity to sit down with Joel Araujo, an MLB executive responsible for international player development, to discuss his work overseas. Joel is himself Dominican-American, and his work reflects his commitment to the growth of baseball AND the health of the countries he serves. In the video below (in Spanish), Joel shares his vision for players who become healthy, whole, and active citizens whether they make it to “the Show” or not. Joel is a bridge-builder, a link between two worlds that brings flourishing to both. Listen to this week’s podcast and watch the video below to learn more about Joel’s work supporting the countries he serves.

About Joel Araujo

Joel Araujo is the senior manager of Major League Baseball’s International Talent Development Department where he leads the group’s talent development efforts abroad. Since joining MLB in 2008, he has been involved with nearly every aspect of international baseball operations, from contracts and visas to winter leagues and international talent procurement. He founded the Major League Baseball Amateur Prospect League, which gives Dominican prospects a weekly opportunity to showcase their talents before officials from all 30 MLB Clubs, and the first-ever MLB Elite Development Program for Puerto Rican high school players. He now oversees MLB's Elite Baseball Development Programs in Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Curacao and South Africa. Araujo also established the MLB International Showcase, an annual event which allows Clubs to view and evaluate the best international amateur talent on the market, as well as the Coach Development Program, a two-week course that trains coaches from around the globe so that they can better develop players in their home countries. MLB now holds multiple showcases in various countries each year (some of which are attended by upwards of 300 Club scouts), and over the last four years, more than 500 coaches from 30 different countries across four continents have completed the coaching curriculum. He continues to work to expand MLB’s baseball development efforts into new markets.

The Urban Village

A recent Metropolis article opened by asking, “If Jesus were alive today, would he be a property developer?” The question is being asked by a writer who is recognizing the Church’s behavior as a reflection of Jesus’ character. Because churches are partnering with developers to create new places of worship and community service, the writer identified this as a potential testimony of who Jesus would be today. It isn’t clear if this writer fully grasps the implications of what she asked, but her question says something about the work of gospel-preaching and ministry. To quote another journalist, “Shouldn’t it be our moral responsibility to finally make it our city's top priority to aggressively rebuild parts of [the city] that in some ways our city leaders have had a hand in helping destroy?”[1]

Dr. A.R. Bernard and his congregation have answered yes to this second question, choosing to address the gentrification of Brooklyn, New York with an astonishing development plan. In partnership with a developer and working with the city’s existing policies, the Christian Cultural Center is working an aggressive plan to build an 11-acre Urban Village equipped with a performing arts center, local retailers, affordable housing, and everything necessary for a walkable community. The project, an estimated $1.2 billion endeavor, will begin as early as next year. Speaking at the 100 Cities Summit, Dr. Bernard said this about the project:

“In cities like New York, there is gentrification taking place. Gentrification could be racial, it could be economic. For us it is economic. Individuals who are working class or in a certain income range are being squeezed out. We wanted to respond by creating affordable housing. We didn’t want to do what has typically been done over the last 70, 80 years in America and that is warehousing people with one income, which perpetuates poverty and perpetuates inner city condition.”[2]

We sat down with Dr. Bernard to discuss the Urban Village, asking him about the way the project developed for the church, how they chose their partnerships, and how this project could be replicated. At a fundamental level, this church is making something new of the city, choosing to shape a large section in response to the broken structures of New York and as a testimony of the kind of community that is promised in Scripture. In this way, the Urban Village is a new World Outspoken, a story told in concrete buildings that point to what Jesus is doing in the city. Listen to the podcast to learn more.

About Dr. A. R. Bernard

A.R. Bernard enjoyed a successful career in finance before opening a small storefront church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. From a handful of members the church has blossomed into the Christian Cultural Center (CCC), one of America’s fastest-growing churches with 40,000 members.

Considered by many to be the most influential and respected Christian in America, A.R. Bernard has been featured on Fox News, CNN, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, CBS News, and BET — and has his own weekly show on Daystar TV. Revered as the “Power Pastor” by The New York Times, Pastor Bernard was recently a guest on Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul Sunday, where he discussed his bestselling book, Four Things Women Want from a Man.

Footnotes

[1] Mark Konkol, “Rahm Is Right: We Have a Moral Obligation To Save City From Itself,” DNAinfo.com, November 05, 2015, Accessed December 16, 2015, http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151105/auburn-gresham/mayor-emanuel-is-right-we-have-moral-obligation-save-city-from-itself.

[2] “AR Bernard’s Brooklyn Megachurch to Build $1.2 Billion Housing Community to Address Gentrification,” accessed December 28, 2018, https://www.christianpost.com/news/ar-bernards-brooklyn-megachurch-to-build-12-billion-housing-community-to-address-gentrification.html.

Making Ballet Accessible

Ballet, as with many of the “fine arts,” is perceived as art for the aristocracy. The art form is commonly expensive, exclusive, and occasionally elitist, but Ballet 5:8 subverts these common values to provide accessible, high-quality dance training to students of all ages, levels of ability, and ethnic backgrounds. Their school commits to fostering a nurturing environment where instructors care for the students’ spirits and bodies. This is Ballet reimagined. This is a studio telling a different story.

Ballet 5:8 is a non-profit dance company and school changing the way this art form is perceived and used in the Chicago-land area. Their faith-based commitments drive their pursuit of excellence in their craft and informs the outward focus of all their programming and performances. According to their handbook, “We see dance not as a means of self-glorification, but as a way to share the joy of our faith with the communities around us and to invite others into meaningful discussion of faith topics.”

We sat down with Ballet 5:8’s Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager to discuss their commitment to share their faith and make quality ballet accessible to all. Watch the video below, then listen to the podcast to learn more about Ballet 5:8 and the city they make. If you are in the Chicago-land area, you should make it out to their upcoming show!

About Julianna Rubio Slager

Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager is originally from Spring Arbor, Michigan. Slager began her dance training with Mrs. Lori Ladwig and went on to study under notable teachers from Ann Arbor Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, the Vaganova Academy and Puerto Rican National Ballet. Slager enjoyed dancing under Barbara Smith at Greater Lansing Ballet during her training, and also under Kathy Thibodeaux and Sol Maisonet at Ballet Magnificat. Upon moving to Chicago, Slager had the opportunity to work as freelance artist, teacher and choreographer in the Greater Chicago area. Slager was instrumental in the co-founding of Ballet 5:8 in 2012. Beginning in 2014, Ballet 5:8 began touring nationally, bringing Slager's critically acclaimed ballets such as Scarlet and The Stor(ies) of You and Me to audiences across the nation. In 2015, Slager was awarded the Individual Artist Program Grant from the City of Chicago for recognition and continued development of her choreographic work.

In the short span of six years, Slager has enjoyed training and mentoring her first generation of aspiring artists in Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts' Pre-Professional and Conservatory programs, and in the Ballet 5:8 Trainee Program. She has had the joy of watching her students be accepted into many prestigious summer intensive, trainee and year-round programs, including the Kirov Academy, Pittsburg Ballet Theater, Houston Ballet, Washington Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Trainee Program, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Ellison Ballet, School of American Ballet, and others.

The Maker's Space

In 2017, The Atlantic published “The Disappearing Right to Earn a Living.” The article reveals irrational and restrictive licensing regulations that bar aspiring entrepreneurs from competing against larger businesses. In word, the US cultural narrative champions the small business owner, but in deed, the systems in place tell a different story. Social systems and cultural values run contrary to one another, making it difficult for people (particularly POC) with skills to start their own businesses. This reality is mirrored across the world, in Jaipur, India, where culture and society run parallel in their opposition to creatives and artists trying to start small businesses.

Adityendra (Adi) Solanki and Elizabeth Schrock are the founders of The Maker’s Space (TMS). In a city that values professional, white-collar work and pressures women into certain roles, TMS subverts the cultural narrative of Jaipur. We recently interviewed the founders of TMS as they fundraise to complete the construction of their space. Watch their video above, then read the interview to hear their story. The conversation that follows has been edited and condensed.

Questions for The Maker's Space

1. What is The Maker's Space?The Maker’s Space is a members-only, community focused co-working space in Jaipur, India. We are designed to cater to local and traveling entrepreneurs, freelancers, start-up companies, and creatives who desire to work together in a professional space, yet don’t want to have the ever-increasing overhead costs of a private office.We offer a variety of membership packages to meet the needs of our clients, giving them access to a welcoming and clean, aesthetically pleasing, fully-outfitted work environment. We also provide event space on rent, cross-cultural exposure and the cross-pollination of ideas through collaborative conversation encouraged by the open-concept office floor plan, and opportunities for growth through personal and professional developmental workshops and seminars.The name, The Maker’s Space, is a nod to the Ultimate Maker’s grace and goodness in giving talents and gifts to people. We see His creativity in each person and want to celebrate that in our members. This space is dedicated to Him. Additionally, we want our members to feel a sense of ownership for the space. It is theirs to grow, to use, to invest in. They have a place to call their own, along with their fellow members.

2. What inspired you to create the space? role do disabled persons share in our culture-making?Elizabeth: The original inspiration came from communications with new friends I was making when I first moved to Jaipur in 2015. When young women get married in this culture, they move in with her new husband’s entire family. Many of these women are not allowed to work outside of the home because they must be available to meet the needs of the family. So, home-based business seems like the only way to fulfill their dreams or have a bit of an escape from what feels like a heavy hand from the new family. Textiles, clothing, and jewelry design seem to be the most popular, but many don’t have the resources they need to succeed and do well in their venture.As I got to know more about these needs, I met more people who desired to follow a dream or passion, but didn’t have the confidence or prior training, and felt the need to help in some way and begin to think about a design studio to encourage new ideas in design.In early 2017, I reconnected with Adi whom I had meet two years prior through a mutual friend. I knew he would have some good insight about this potential project with his experience as a freelance photographer. Our first meeting lasted four hours, and in that time, I realized that the issues I had seen in the lives of young women trying something new were for all freelancers and entrepreneurs in much of India. That meeting helped to form my scattered ideas into a concrete idea for a co-working space, catering to more individuals than just women or designers.
   Adi: As a freelance photographer myself, I know the struggles that those who try a self-made business face and I wanted to help Elizabeth bring a space to Jaipur to help people like myself. I believed in the vision that she had and wanted to be a part of bringing dignity back to the individuals who take the risk to follow a passion.

3. Adi, you mentioned that freelancers and entrepreneurs are often deemed “failures” by the society in Jaipur. Can you tell us more about the social expectations for work? Why are freelancers and entrepreneurs deemed failures?Local entrepreneurs, freelancers, start-up companies, and creatives have been ostracized in the community due to their choice in profession. Historically in India, this group of people have been looked down upon by society, including friends and family, for not having a socially acceptable, corporate job, and no office of their own to work from. In the eyes of those around them, freelancers are seen as lazy, rebellious, and lower class individuals who couldn’t make anything good come from their life in the way a doctor, engineer, or lawyer could, and are not serious about providing for their families or other social duties. The amount of risk involved for a creative entrepreneur and freelancer is high, and because of the lack of support and exposure to opportunities, many freelancers and creatives become discouraged and give up, losing much of their potential to the demands of family and society. I left a well-paying job and a lot of opportunity in Australia in 2013 due to a family crisis. I had done a masters program in hospitality and event management and had a bright future in Australia. But, when I came back to India, I immediately fell back to the lowest of the bunch and knew I would be doing tasks I was too qualified to do in the corporate world. I realized very quickly that life was too short to be miserable in work and decided to pursue something that I wanted to do and brought me happiness.As I studied and taught myself photography, my immediate family was supportive, but only as much as they could be. My other relatives were much less supportive and understanding, and I became the focus of jokes. This was hard, but not as discouraging as what I faced from society. In India, art and creativity are not highly valued. So, as a photographer, someone with the stress of capturing important events and editing them well, my clients see very little value in paying me a fair price for what is considered to be a lesser job. I know the frustration freelancers and creatives face in this society, and want to help support them and share my experiences with them. By providing our members at The Maker’s Space a place to work outside of the home, but still allowing them the freedom to work for themselves, we want to bring a sense of dignity to the freelancer and increase the sustainability of their work through community support and training.

4. How do you envision The Maker’s Space changing the story about success and work in Jaipur?Jaipur has always been a hub for traditional Rajasthani art and design and a widely known and attractive place for international designers. As the age of industry has come, much of the traditional ways of doing art has been lost, and in turn, jobs for artisans have been lost. However, many at the front of a movement to preserve such creativity are local and international creatives, many of whom are looking for community and support as they venture into entrepreneurship in Jaipur for the first time. By working under one roof, our members from various backgrounds will benefit from a network of people and the cross-pollination of ideas through collaborative conversation and developmental resources fostered and provided in the co-working space. It is our goal that the relationships and personal and professional growth developed through The Maker’s Space empowers our members, the freelance and creative entrepreneur community, to excel in business and make a difference in their spheres of influence. The level of our social impact is directly related to the level of personal touch we have with our members and therefore the community. When we directly impact our members, we will indirectly impact those whom they are connected to in life and business. In addition to this, the traditional arts of which Jaipur is known, will have a better chance of surviving if those who are working to save such artistic practices are supported and promoted. This also means more jobs for local artisans and the opportunity to expand the reach of local traditional art into the global markets.

5. Elizabeth, you expressed a special interest in serving the women of Jaipur. What can you tell us about their situation and how The Maker’s Space intends to enable their work?As we work specifically with women, we hope to encourage their growth by providing them necessary resources and help them gain a sense of ownership for their work and provide a platform from which to launch into the local and global markets. Life for women is hard in a patriarchal society, especially now as Jaipur is in the middle of redefining itself between the traditions of old and the rise of modernity. Women are being educated, but there is still a desire from the older generations for them to not work outside of the home once they are married. Traditionally, once a woman is married, it is her job to cook, clean, and care for her husbands extended family. However, today’s newly married women are finding it hard to submit to that traditional expectation as she has been educated through college or post-college degrees. She finds it hard to leave all of that behind when she has spent so much time, effort, and money on bettering herself through education. Both Adi and I see so much value in young working women, however, we both know Jaipur will not change overnight. We think it is the perfect time for TMS, especially for women. Having a co-working space to slip away to for a few hours each day meets the expectations of both young woman and new in-laws. She can take care of the household yet have the resources she needs to be empowered to follow a passion or dream. She has people who believe in her and support her, and a place to call her own.

6. The Maker’s Space is a subversive cultural space, providing opportunities for growth and support to cultural outsiders. Do you expect resistance to your space? If so, how will you respond?Adi: I don’t think there will be much active resistance to The Maker’s Space, but there will be many people who will not fully understand the need for it. Because there is not a value for freelancers and creatives in Jaipur, there is not an understanding of their specific and unique needs. We have talked with many people inquiring about office space for a large team of upwards of sixty people. It’s hard for directors of larger companies to understand that we are a community oriented, not cubical “9-5,” kind of business. The best way for people to understand who we are and what we do is to show them photos or bring them into the space and explain the needs of our members and how The Maker’s Space benefits them.

7. Can you tell us about some of the entrepreneurs and freelance workers you already work with?Currently, we are still in the renovation process of the space, and do not have any signed on members. However, the people who have shown positive interest in future memberships have been mostly local entrepreneurs, freelancers, and a few expat designers who come to India for a few months at a time.We have also been in communication with a two local textile designers who recently did a project on an all-but-lost art form call Jajam, which is all about communities coming together. They came to us asking if we would host an exhibition of the work they have done and help promote this restored traditional art form in the community. It is projects and people like these that excite us for the future of The Maker’s Space and its place in and for the creative community of Jaipur.

8. What kind of training, workshops, and seminars can members expect in TMS?The vision behind TMS boils down to growing and celebrating the God-given talents and passions in each individual, so everything we do points in that direction, including any training, workshops, seminars, and events. Examples of some of these are trainings on how to write a good business plan, hands-on workshops on local art to help preserve what is nearly lost, seminars on balancing a healthy lifestyle, and events to promote community such as Saturday member’s brunch or open-mic nights. The possibilities to promote personal and professional growth are endless.

9. Five-years from opening day, how do you imagine Jaipur changing because of TMS? What will Jaipur be with a vibrant creative community?Elizabeth: My goal in the first five years of TMS is simply to help make artistic, God-given passions and talents valued in society and bring a sense of dignity to the creative people in Jaipur.
   Adi: I want to see more established people and brands growing together under our roof. Through their success stories, Jaipur will be a more colorful city and people around the world will know it for its creative community.

10. How can people support The Maker’s Space?While we are actively desiring to pioneer a change in identity for the freelance and entrepreneur community in Jaipur and provide the necessary platform for growth and celebration, we are inviting you to join us and make our efforts go even further. We are seeking support through financial contribution in the form of a tax-deductible donation, which would help us finish the current renovations and help us meet our first-year operational expenses goal. Any money raised beyond that will go toward sponsoring memberships for female entrepreneurs who are breaking the mold of what has traditionally been their role in society and are seeking empowerment through entrepreneurship. Training for these women, as well as for locals in creative fields (artists, freelancers, startup companies, etc.), is needed to broaden their worldview and help them to think outside of the traditional box when it comes to growing their business or gaining a presence locally or globally. You would provide them an option close to home which will help them gain a new perspective, open their eyes to see their potential, and collaborate with a supportive community. You can give a tax-deductible donation online through the link on our website, www.themakersspacejaipur.com.

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About Elizabeth and Adi

Adityendra (Adi) Solanki

A Rajasthan native and a freelance photographer, Adityendra Solanki has brought a necessary cultural understanding to the co-working concept in Jaipur. His unique perspective has encouraged the growth of the desire The Maker’s Space has to support individuals and teams who may not have support outside of their community. His bachelors and master’s degrees in hospitality technology and management and international tourism have also helped in making The Maker’s Space the best it can be for both local and international members. When you come to an event at TMS, you can be sure that Adi worked diligently to make it happen. Be sure to check out Adi’s other work, too. As someone who values people, culture, and traveling, his work is captivating.

Elizabeth Schrock

The Maker’s Space is the brain child of Elizabeth Schrock. After spending a few years living in India, Elizabeth saw a need in the freelance and creative entrepreneur community in Jaipur for resources and support. The desire to help her friends led to a dream to help the community, and thus, the idea for The Maker’s Space was formed. Elizabeth dabbled in many art forms while growing up in the Unity States, and has a love for all things creative, appreciating the value of each individual and their work. You will find her behind much of the networking and collaboration connections in the co-working space community and curating events to foster community and individual growth.

A New “American Dream”

Early 20th century Chicago was a grimy place. From a town of a hundred people, the city reached a population of over two million, and this resulted in filth, smoke pollution, faulty sanitation, and street congestion that was dangerous for pedestrians. Living conditions were dreadful. Despite all this, the city’s leading architect and planner still wrote, “City life has attractions that make a strong appeal to human nature. Opportunities for wealth and power and social consideration, for amusement and instruction, for the increase of knowledge and the cultivation of taste, are greater for the average person in the city than in the country.” This architect, named Daniel Burnham, believed it should come as no surprise that the city constantly drew “young men and women of ambition and self-reliance, who are lured [to the city] by the great prizes … open to the competition of all.” But, what happens when an ambitious young woman, a perfect match to Burnham’s profile, decides to renounce the “great prizes” of the city to move back home to an Island in the Pacific?[1]

Christiana Galea’i is an American Samoan singer and song-writer who was set to “make it” in Chicago, but she didn’t stay in the city, choosing to turn down a record deal to move back home to be with her people. Her dream was to inspire young musicians to produce excellent music right from the island, proving that Samoa has something precious to contribute to the global community. Christiana's costly decision reaped unimaginable reward. She’s inspired, enabled, and supported several budding artists who are now producing music of their own, making something new and good of the global city. Listen to this World Outspoken Feature to learn more about enabling culture-making musicians who are already telling a new story about the world.

About Christiana

Christiana Galeaʻi is an independent artist and creative writer who focuses perspectives of small island nations. Originally from Taʻū, American Samoa, she grew up traveling to places with different cultures from urban Japan, sunny California, and rural Alaska. These experiences inform her production of songs and writings that share native narratives from an authentic point of view. After studying music and biblical studies at the Moody Bible Institute, Christiana returned to her Polynesian home to teach. She continues her travels as an events coordinator that encourages local communities to share their unique stories. Christiana is an active member of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa and has a desire to see loving reform among its members. Aside from public speaking and artist collaboration, she enjoys ice cream. Her favorite flavor is mint chocolate chip, but it depends on the mood! You may find her latest creations at christianagaleai.com.

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Footnote

1. Sections of this article are from Seeking Zion: The Gospel and The City We Make, written by Emanuel (Ricky) Padilla. 2017. Quotes of Daniel Burnham are from his 1909 Plan of Chicago. Citation: Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett, Plan of Chicago, First Edition (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1993), 2pg. 33.

Artz N The Hood

Young Culture-Makers make their own World

It’s nearly 1 a.m. when it’s decided. Eight high school students from East Denver convince their bible study leader to help them start an art camp. Nearly 20 years later, the week-long camp has an avg. of 350-400 campers and provides classes on everything from hip-hop dance to videography. For the original eight, camp was resistance. Camp was protest. Camp was proof their world was theirs to own. When Artz N the Hood was founded, it was a response to budget cuts in the Denver public-school system. The arts were among the cuts, leaving students with limited and costly access to creative outlets. So, on that night, eight students decided to run an art camp right from their church parking lot.

Artz N the Hood is an inspiring story of young culture-makers. The city they envision includes access to art education and a significant role for young people to contribute in real ways to making their city. Their story is a reminder that culture is always what we make. Culture is always communal. Q Nellum, the Bible study leader enabling these young culture-makers, shares our conviction that the city we make is fashioned from a diverse community of makers, including black and brown high school students. In our interview with Q and Sandra Jennings Curry, we hear the story of these culture-makers and what they produced: an intentionally wild environment of creativity and fun, where high school students lead and the whole community is involved. Artz N the Hood is a work of place-making best practices. Students learn about cooperation, leadership, social justice, and inclusion. They work together to make their city and reflect God’s Kingdom. Listen to this World Outspoken Feature to learn more about enabling young culture-makers making their city together.

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Footnote

1. Cover photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

Podcast Credits:

• Recording: @lucasjmanning

• Music: @abelepadilla & @hellomrperez

• Production: @brandedhumans

• Interviewer: @rickyelpoeta