As an urban minister, leader of a non-profit focusing on city issues, a business person pursuing marketplace solutions to urban issues, or a city government leader, you need perspective and in-depth understanding about cities. This specialization provides new perspectives about God’s view of cities, the latest research on cities, and relationships with some of the world’s leading influencers of cities. You will also explore how God has called you in the continuum of relief development and advocacy:
Relief: how to effectively address crises and address immediate needs.
Development: how to integrate the many facets of community spiritual, social, economic, and educational development.
Advocacy: diplomacy, politics, and activism addressing places of power and long-standing systems of evil that feed off from poverty and injustice.
You will learn how to exegete your city while using Appreciative Inquiry and other tools to identify how God has preceded your work. Through community engagement, you will empower people to develop solutions in their own neighborhoods through Asset Based Community Development. You will explore time-proven models of city-wide networks development to increase partnerships and unity while building an atmosphere of trust in your work as an urban leader. You will gain mission clarity for you and your organization as well as core skills in collaboration, fundraising, and leadership development as you will immediately apply what you are learning to your current roles.
Read Kathy Pierburg's story.