Culture, Christ and the Kingdom
I am writing to invite you to New Wine, New Wineskins' upcoming conference titled Culture, Christ and the Kingdom on May 9th and 10th. New Wine is pleased to co-sponsor this event with Wiconi International, which exists to see indigenous people come to faith and life in Jesus Christ and to fulfill their God-given place in the body of Christ worldwide. As a result of our partnership, this conference will explore indigenous ministry among First Nations people and the unique voice with which pre-modern people groups can speak into a post-modern culture for the sake of Christ.
I am excited to partner with Richard Twiss, President of Wiconi International. His heart is one of openness to God's Spirit in regards to using indigenous cultural forms, filled with Christ-centered meaning, to reach Native people and Anglos alike for Christ. Such an approach to indigenous cultural forms has largely been lacking in Native outreach in North America. Just as in Biblical times where people were oppressed beneath the weight of non-biblical tradition, so too, First Nations people have often been oppressed by the syncretistic imposition of Western culture on the Gospel – all in the name of Christ! This is not an isolated affair. Other people groups worldwide have experienced similar forms of oppression.
How does all this relate to you? Well, as the saying goes, we now live in a global village where the world lives at our doorstep. As our society becomes more ethnically and culturally diverse, how will the church respond to the huge challenges such diversity brings? Today's church leaders must rise to the challenge and pray, think and work through these issues together with an eye toward cultural sensitivity, biblical integrity, genuine unity and our future hope in Christ. This conference is unique in that we will be partnering with outstanding Native North American Christian thinkers and theologians.
Richard Twiss and I have invited Terry LeBlanc from the Mi'kmaq Nation, Ray Aldred from the Cree Nation and Cheryl Barnetson from the Carrier Nation. They will help us tackle the following themes: a theology of culture, biblical worldview, dangers of syncretism and relativism, cultural sensitivity, indigenous hymnody/ praise & worship, the emerging indigenous world missions movement, changing paradigms in Native ministry and the impact of a First Nations worldview in a postmodern culture. Besides formal presentations, there will be workshops and Native dance.
Culture, Christ and the Kingdom is scheduled for Friday, May 9th from 2:30-8:00 PM and Saturday, May 10th from 9:00 AM-8:30 PM. Registration will be held prior to the start of each day's events. The cost at the door is $20 per person, $30 per couple, and $10 for students. This price covers both days. The conference will be held at Multnomah Biblical Seminary, located at 8435 NE Glisan, in Travis-Lovitt Hall, rooms 111 & 112. Parking for the conference can be found on Glisan Street or in the lower parking lot of Central Bible Church.
More detailed information can be found on the schedule.
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