Ignite Justice

January found me helping to facilitate a Charlotte based Ignite Justice Conference with a local and global in focus. The update is that it was “over the top” and you all played a role in it as I tweeted and used Facebook update the progress and impact, so thank you for your prayers and partnership in the gospel.

Though we hoped for 1000 we ended up at over 450 in attendance. This was the first year and I don't think anyone really knew what to expect but everyone felt it was hugely (is that a word) successful. People were very engaged concerning and learning about injustice issues both here and around the world. Many made commitments to become involved. I think next year (this was the first year) will be even greater impact. 

From the start, Derwin Grey from Transformation Church called us to embrace the challenge that Jesus mandated. Things went from good to great as, Stephan Bauman of World Relief shared. Then the group went off to breakout sessions with offering such as: Be the Answer, Prayer & The Persecuted Church, Sex Trafficking, and several others like, Missions at Our Doorstep and Justice in the Neighborhood. The youth had a track called, Justice in the Hallways revolving around bullying. 

I had the chance to host a breakout on healthy partnerships and I will have several appointments flowing out of it for consultation. I already have a couple emails from people wanting to schedule times to discuss their situations. 

I helped to bring in Jonathan Shaw, UWMer headed to DR Congo and serving with Congo Initiative, from Ann Arbor and his time went well. Jonathan and Kate want to transition to DR Congo in July so please pray of that. I know he got one new supporter and he went home with a fist full of names to follow up on. This conference had both a local focus and international focus with the international side being dominated by Africa injustice so UWM's history and Jonathan Shaw's connection made a great platform for discussion and engagement. 

Arlesia Hill, owner of GOGREEGTOURS and a volunteer I recruited to become a local advocate for Congo Initiative, was really energized as she is working toward building for a Charlotte based David Kasali (Congo Initiative Founder) meeting the end of February, called Arts for Congo. So I think I may have Jonathan Shaw come back to attend this "Art for Congo" event in order to help gather more supporters for their ministry. Very cool stuff here.

I was able to sit and have an extended conversation with Lauri Elliott, Executive Director of The Afribiz Foundation. She authored a book, Create Wealth in Africa and is very accomplish. Her network is very interested in making a trip to see Beni, DR Congo for investigative purposes around development of a business energizer (she describes this as bigger than a business incubator). This is exciting as this is a much needed ingredient for the church in east Africa to expand and multiply resulting in their people realizing stability and staging to effect the surrounding nations on the continent.

You may know that DRC is the center of Africa and this nation has the potential to impact many surrounding nations. Congo Initiative's Bilingual University, that the Shaws will help lead (they will be the third PhD resident), is training new leaders with a biblical world view, bilingual capacity, and market (applied science, business, communication, etc), church (theological track), and leadership skills (critical thinking and a new pedagogy). Last year they graduated about 350 people! Lauri's economic impact and work and network has already been felt in other nations and she has started to explore DRC and was looking for a national partners. Congo Initiative may be that partner.

Michele Dudley who led this event was extremely encouraged and tired but saw her vision to mobilize people to engage injustice issues realize. Michele and Celeste Bundy in 2012 started a free trade fashion business, Fashion & Compassion and you should visit the online store. This was very cool to help her succeed and see her vision grow larger.

Lastly I spoke with another group who wanted our Sembradores training materials that we use in Cuba for a Dominican Republic partnership they are in for evaluation and possible implementation. I sent them to him but will follow up with a proposal that our Cuban trainers go to the Dominican Republic to perform the initial "train the trainers" session. My colleague, Joe Milioni and I want to build a missionary vision in the hearts of the Cuban brothers so as our Sembradores partnership develops a cross-cultural training center in Cuba the can pass this vision onto Cuban who are being called to leave the island and serve in other places. I think this experience will help expand their vision as they realize that they have tangible offerings to the missionary world beyond Cuba. 

This is your investment. This is your joy.

Mark Szymanski
www.mszymanski.com 
mski1957@gmail.com
 
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