Love Your Neighbor

Missions & Justice

Register today for instant access to our free half-day virtual gathering
that challenges us to leave our comfort zones and consider the
powerful intersection of missions and justice.

About

We invited leaders from across the nation to share their experiences around missions and justice. When we commit to loving our neighbors, we pursue ways to better listen and respond. Part of our response must include understanding systemic injustices that lead to perpetual oppression. Each speaker challenged us to listen more closely to the voices of our neighbors.

Love Your Neighbor

What does it mean to love your neighbor? Multiple times throughout the bible Jesus gives us examples of what it looks like to love our neighbors. In fact, Jesus says “There is no greater commandment than these. Love the Lord your God with everything that you have and love your neighbor as yourself.” As we dive into a conversation about missions and justice, let’s explore more deeply Jesus’ mandate to love our neighbor.

Justice

Justice. What is it and what does true justice look like for people in your community, or the communities that you are hoping to serve? Let’s dive in and understand what justice looks like from a biblical perspective.

Missions

Healthy missions. What is it and what does it look like? Missions is often equated with the mobilization of people to action and service. As we mobilize, we must actively seek to fight against the injustices that exist for those who are marginalized. Let’s walk through tangible ways we can honor our neighbors and humbly serve vulnerable communities around us.

Missions & Justice

How can we seek justice through missions? Sometimes, we see these two as mutually exclusive. Let’s explore practical ways we can serve and love our neighbors with a perspective that encompasses both of these crucial steps in loving our neighbors.

Speakers

Tommy Nixon

Urban Youth Workers Institute

Some say that Tommy Nixon’s perspective on the Church is innovative. Others view the way he lives and the risks he takes for God’s cause as inspiring. At first appearance one would think that it’s through in depth study and hours of strategic planning that has brought him to this way of living, but Tommy would be the first to admit that he was fortunate to have stumbled into his understanding of God’s intention for His Church. It was God’s gift and blessing that he’s been able to experience the Kingdom in the way he has for the last 16 years.

In 2002 Tommy and his wife moved into the Garnet neighborhood – a low income, predominantly Latino community – in Fullerton. Through gang members, pregnant teens, and broken families Tommy and Rachael began to experience the Kingdom in profound ways. These seemingly insignificant relationships led Tommy to deeper places in his relationship with Jesus. God’s calling in Tommy’s life became much clearer at this point; to envision a church that lives out what it says it believes.

A prophetic voice for the Church, Tommy’s life has completely changed because he has discovered that as God calls him into suffering with others a deeper understanding of God’s heart emerges.

Tommy is a founder and former Executive Director of Solidarity a nonprofit organization that strengthens urban communities. Tommy is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Urban Youth Workers Institute and leads the organization to power urban youth workers so that urban youth have the leaders and role models they need to live transformed lives by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He also planted a church in 2014 called One Life City Church and currently is the lead pastor. From the streets and jails of North Orange County, to the favelas of Sao Paulo to standing up for immigration reform Tommy has experienced God’s heart for humanity and His church and is passionate about helping leaders reach this next generation.

Tommy lives in Anaheim, Ca. He has been married to Rachael since 2003 and has four amazing daughters and one son.

Gena Thomas

Author

Gena Thomas is a writer, a faith wrestler, a wife, and a mom. She and her husband, Andrew, have been married for 11 years and they have two children, an 8-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl. Gena works as an instructional designer at a nonprofit that equips local churches in the area of holistic development. She has written for several Christian publications, and published her first book, A Smoldering Wick: Igniting Missions Work with Sustainable Practices in 2016.

Her second book, Separated by the Border: A Birth Mother, a Foster Mother, and a Migrant Child’s 3,000-Mile Journey unpacks the story of reuniting her Honduran foster daughter with her family after separation at the US border. It was published in 2019 with InterVarsity Press. Alisa & The Coronavirus is Gena’s first children’s book, self-published in April 2020.

Erica Schimelpfenig

YouthWorks

Erica is the Executive Director at YouthWorks. She began at YouthWorks in 2000 as a summer site staff and has since led in a variety of roles over 20 years within the organization. She is passionate about developing leaders and providing opportunities for the next generation to seek God and experience new and broader Kingdom perspectives through service experiences. Erica and her husband Cody stay busy with their three kids, Jonah, Cana and Mercy. They live in north Minneapolis where they enjoy doing house projects, hanging with friends and creating new adventures.

Mike Owens

One Alliance

Michael L. Owens is founder and CEO of Ground Breakers Inc., a youth leadership development organization and youth and young adult outreach ministry to the city of Atlanta and abroad. Michael Owens served on the staff of a large mega church in Atlanta for 15 years in the youth ministry, he for 7 years was the Sr Youth Pastor where he ministered to over 700+ teenagers weekly and hosted a conference where over 5000+ teenagers attended. Mike is a regular ORANGE CONFERENCE communicator under the leadership of Reggie Joiner.

Mike and his wife has launched a new creative inspirational outreach ministry in Atlanta called “The EVOLVE Experience” or EVOLVE Millennial Church which focuses on young adults and the unchurched. Mike has over 25 years experience ministering the gospel and training leaders. He is a graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center with a certificate degree in Pastoral Studies. He’s married to Shemika Owens with 4 amazing children.

Nate Gangwer

Central Detroit Christian

Nate Gangwer lives and works in the middle of the amazing city of Detroit. For nearly six years he has worked with Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation (CDC). Founded in 1995, CDC has faithfully served two of the nations poorest zip codes by focusing on Education, Employment, and Empowerment. Each year CDC brings about positive transformation for thousands of kids and adults through after school programs, teen life-readiness training, employment opportunities, housing revitalizations, community improvement, financial counseling, spiritual development, and much more.

Currently in the position of Volunteer Coordinator, Nate strives to bridge the often-present gap between suburban and urban populations. Through advocacy, education, cultural competency training, public speaking, and personal interactions he hopes to equip all people to pursue the Biblical doctrines of reconciliation, justice, and mercy.

Nate married his beautiful wife Lissy in 2012 and since then they have added two sons to their family: Lewis and Theron. Nate enjoys woodworking, cooking, basketball, wrestling with his sons, date nights with his lovely wife, helping neighbors, and rock climbing. The whole family loves walking the neighborhood, eating delicious food, and opening their home to family, friends, and the community.

Gerald Fadayomi

Stello Initiative

Gerald serves as the Founder and President of the Stello Initiative, a 501c3 organization that mobilizes young adults to serve through service based conferences (For God So Loved Tour). Gerald’s passion for the next generation is best expressed by preaching biblical truth to students and adults around the globe. This passion has positioned him as a trusted voice for multiple organizations including North Point Ministries, Bigstuf Camps, Passion City Church, Calvary Chapel, NewSpring Church, Orange Conference and many more.

Gerald is the author of “Before You Go,” a resource designed to help students follow Jesus and grow in their faith after high school. He also co-authored Starting Now, a devotional for college freshman. His most recent book entitled “When Life Gives You Lemons,” serves as a practical guide for navigating seasons of adversity for all ages.

Prior to his current role, Gerald spent 3 years doing non-profit work for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, and 5 years as a student pastor at Browns Bridge Church.

Gerald is happily married to his beautiful wife Kiley and loves spending his free time cheering on Lebron James and browsing through the SNKRS app. They live in Atlanta and are proud parents of identical twin girls (Wesley Grace & Zoey Faith).

CW Allen

Sunshine Gospel Ministries

CW Allen is a FAITH BASED author and creative, who inspires people to love wholistically through THOUGHT PROVOKING STORY TELLING. In 2009 CW left Cleveland and moved to Chicago where he attended Moody Bible Institute and studied communications and Bible. CW also met his lovely wife, Jacqueline, there. CW and Jacqueline welcomed their first child, Ariah Christine Allen, into this world in August 2019. They currently reside on Chicago’s Southside where CW also works as the program director for Sunshine Gospel Ministries’ BridgeBuilders program.

Now in the fifteenth year of his musical journey CW has finished his first book and latest album entitled Catalyst. CW has had the privilege to share all over the country in bars, schools, camps, and conferences opening for artists such as Cannon, Da Truth, Sean C. Johnson, Shopé, This’l, and the Legendary Curtis Blow.

Billy Nolan

North Point Ministries

Billy began at North Point Ministries | global(x) in 2004 and is passionate about engaging people in God’s global mission. Over the years he has served in a variety of roles as the Director of Trips, Director of Global Partnerships, and currently the Director of Student Journeys.

Before beginning his career at North Point Ministries, Billy and his wife Shala served as missionaries in East Asia for six years helping college students understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus. His love for student ministry continues. As a small group leader to 50 high school students, he is always looking for ways to go deeper and have fun with the guys. When Billy isn’t in the office, you will more than likely find him running trails or on a river fishing.

April Warfield

Apex Missions

April Warfield is U.S. Projects Director, with Apex Missions and has lead student missions with the EFCA for nearly a decade. Seeing an increased passion among young people to help the oppressed and engage in acts of mercy, April views Apex Missions as a vehicle for them to serve God while learning alongside indigenous leaders who are living out the gospel in their communities.

Before her current role, she served as executive director and program administrator in various Los Angeles area non-profits focused on youth development and economic empowerment in underserved communities.

April is energized by building partnerships with local and para-church ministries, working to bring the gospel and meeting felt needs in U.S. urban cities. She is committed to crossing cultures and building community for the sake of the gospel.

April lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband Kevin. They have two college-aged sons Cameron and Kolby. As a transplant to Los Angeles from the East Coast, she and her family tend to spend weekends as tourists taking in the rich cultural diversity the city has to offer.

Yonathan Moya

Border Perspective

Yonathan Moya spent the last decade of his life serving on the mission field throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. He’s traveled all throughout the region, including countries like Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, and Cuba. Yonathan is the Founder and Executive Director of Border Perspective. Yonathan grew up on the U.S. & Mexico border. He’s a South Texas native now living with his wife, Megan, their son Jude, and mini-goldendoodle, Fitz, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dan Reeve

Pillar College

Dan Reeve has been engaged in urban ministry for decades. He has lived in NYC, D.C., Chicago, and Minneapolis, He has served as pastor, urban mission director, President of the Center for Student Missions, adjunct professor of social sciences and urban mission and as an urban Church Re-start consultant.

Dan and his wife Kimberly recently moved from Brooklyn NY to Newark NJ where he directs the dual enrollment program and serves the majority of minority students at Pillar College They have three married daughters and seven small grand kids. Dan’s passion is developing next generation world class Christians through education, mentoring/discipleship and real life experiences. He is an unapologetic “Church-man”. who believes that community and personal transformation happen best when the Church – the women and men of God live life in wholistic community with their neighbors.

More speakers coming soon

FAQ

A virtual gathering is an online space for us to listen and learn together. This Summit is a half-day event focused on missions and justice. During this unsettled time in our nation, it is critical is to consider the powerful intersection of missions and justice, and we’ll do that together through this virtual gathering.

This summit is for anyone, especially leaders and students, who want to dig deeper into understanding the intersection between missions and justice.

By registering on this site, you’ll gain instant access to this free event!

Yes, if you register for the summit, but can’t attend, we will provide a link afterwards for all registered attendees to watch or re-watch the entire event.

We’ve provided timestamps for each speaker in the description, once you open the video!

Registration

Register today for instant access to our free half-day virtual summit,
that took place on July 23rd, 2020.

Love Your Neighbor

Missions & Justice