The Black Leadership and Ministry track invites pastors and leaders who are currently engaged in the Black Church tradition to participate in education from a Black Theological perspective,” describes the Nazarene Theological Seminary website concerning one of its Doctor of Ministry tracks. “The uniqueness of the Black Church experience, exemplified in the racial injustices that continue to plague Black communities, requires theological education and scholarly analysis from a Black Theological perspective.” This is the program Anthony D. Bobo, Jr. (Senior Associate, The Joseph Factor Group) was selected to participate in. The first “face to face” meeting of the Fall 2022 Doctor of Ministry in Black Leadership and Ministry cohort met in Kansas City, Missouri the week of September 11, 2022, on the Nazarene Theological Seminary campus. This week was filled with in class discussion on trauma and participant presentations of community trauma analysis, site visits, as well as spiritual encouragement. What a week! The first night students had dinner with the school’s president, Jeren Rowell, and other staff. During the week, the cohort visited St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (Reverend Dr. Charles Wesley Thurman, Jr., Pastor, and Associate Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program) where there was a presentation by counselor Shamika Pegue who discussed Trauma Informed Church. The group also participated in a “prayer walk” where they walked the neighborhood, prayed, interacted with the neighbors, and listened to the voice of God. They also visited historic St. James Methodist Church where they spent time with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (former pastor) and his son Reverend Dr. Emanuel Cleaver, III (current pastor). The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art African Art collection was visited and reflections of the group on how what they saw relates to what was learned during the week. “I am so honored and blessed to be a part of such a theologically rich program in my context as a leader in the community,” shares Bobo. “The cohort members are amazing, the school’s credibility and openness is encouraging, and the program is challenging yet inspiring.” We are so proud of our Senior Associate and how he continues to serve the community and further pursue academic greatness. Click HERE to learn more about the Nazarene Theological Seminary, Doctor Of Ministry In Black Leadership And Ministry. “We cannot do this work!” Anthony D. Bobo, Jr., Senior Associate of the Joseph Factor Group shares as he reflects on the partnership discussion experience. “God never intended for ministry to be done as a solo project, but a ministry is community of fellowship.”
On August 26, 2022, a team from Influential Global Ministries (IGM) met with the Reformed Church of America (RCA) African American Black Council (AABC) in Chicago. The AABC is the voice of African American and black congregants and congregations in the RCA. As they explore advocating for policies of inclusion and economic, social, and racial justice, AABC brought in Dr. Efrem Smith (IGM co-founder) and the IGM team to work through ideas of rediscovering the black church, reimagining ministry, and re-engaging communities. IGM focuses on equipping and releasing cross-cultural, reconciling, justice-oriented, and metropolitan disciple-makers through leadership development, church planting movements, and church revitalization. Bobo served as lead facilitator of the session. Dr. Smith shared the Theology of Change and how God is a God of change and invited us to be His change agents here on earth. IGM Team member Jonathan Banks (Chief Operating Officer, Urban Outreach Foundation) imploded the group to engage youth. In fact, he says that “the expiration date of your church is already written by how your youth ministry looks.” Other IGM Team members Dr. Joy Johnson (Founder, Dr. Joy Johnson Ministries) and Dr. Robert Owens (Chief Executive Officer, Rivers of Life) shared their wisdom and experiences in revitalizing churches and engaging communities. “It was a blessing to be with the AABC,” says Bobo, “to help explore a path forward in partnership, fellowship, and collaboration.” To have the IGM Team come to visit your organization, please reach out to them at sankofa@influentialglobal.com. On the morning of July 23, 2022, Bishop-Elect Dr. Glake Hill Jr. texted Senior Associate, Anthony D. Bobo, Jr., “I will meet you all at 11:30 at the Firebird restaurant.” Little did Bobo know he was in for more than a meal, but a meeting of the minds. As part of the Sankofa Project, Bobo and Bishop Dr. Robert Owens (Rivers of Life) attended the Church of Christ (Holiness) USA (COCHUSA) annual convention. The Sankofa Project (sponsored by Influential Global Ministries) looks back at the history of the African American Church to glean ideas for reimagining the future church, Bobo and Owens attend the 125th Commemorative Convention to interact with one of the oldest black denominations in America. Bobo reflects on the lunch meeting that morning between Owens and Hill, “Bishop Owens, with his roots in the black church and years of experience in the evangelical church, asked questions of Bishop-Elect Hill… Hill, with his rich history in the Holiness Movement and understanding of systems because of his background in science would respond and then ask questions back…” It was like sitting at a tennis match watching, listening, and laughing as these two leaders shared their theology of the church.” “I felt so blessed to be able to gain understanding from these men who have given their lives to Christ and serving the people of God.” Bobo and Owens attended the Sunday morning service that started with great pomp and circumstance. Many of the church leadership and committee members marched down the aisle while we all stood to our feet while the choir sang a hymn of the church in the background. After praise and worship and church administrative type announcements, the Senior Bishop of the COCHUSA, Bishop Vernon Kennebrew was announced as the speaker of the hour. The sermonic song sang by the spirit filled choir and energetic musicians before he spoke manifested an overwhelming presence of God in the room. He could hardly speak over the Saints “giving vent to the Spirit.” Kennebrew’s message for the morning was, “The Mission Has Not Changed.” With authority, he informed the congregation that the mission of the church has not changed, but methods in which we minister must change. As Kennebrew explained that holiness is a “way of excellence,” he encouraged his hearers to do everything (including living our lives) in the spirit of excellence for God. That night, we returned and the highlight for Bobo and Owens was witnessing their friend and brother consecrated to the bishopric. The consecration service was filled with great excitement because it had been over a decade since the last bishop was consecrated and this night two bishops would have the oil poured on their heads. What a sight to see him and his wife as he stood wearing his robe while members of the South-Central Diocese presented them with gifts of love. The trip to Birmingham, Alabama took Bobo and Owens back to the historic black church… while allowing them to see the future of the black church, as it adapts to methods to save a dying world. Mark Bobo (Associate, The Joseph Factor Group) was announced as a member of Leadership Columbus Board of Trustees. Leadership Columbus provides education and training for emerging and existing leaders in the Columbus area.
Help us congratulate Mark... Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, “Your knowledge, expertise and diligent service has provided support for special events and new initiatives, and garnered increased resources for Maryland’s State Park system.”
Anthony D. Bobo, Jr. (Senior Associate, The Joseph Factor Group) has served on the Maryland Park Advisory Commission (Commission) for over 8 years. The Commission was one of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources civil groups providing expertise in the area of parks and recreation. Secretary Haddaway-Riccio shares more of Bobo’s contribution, “In all, your service has strengthened the conservation mission of the Maryland Park Service and has enhanced our department’s ability to connect all people to the natural and historical resources preserved in our public lands.” We are elated over Bobo and his hard work in the areas of advising, influencing, and leading in the area of natural resources. “My most proud moment of the work with Maryland Parks is the Employee Mentoring effort that I led with some of the Park Service staff. To set up a process for enhancing employee engagement, empowering leaders and staff, and influencing organizational culture in a meaningful way means so much to me.” Mark Spurrier, Manager at Cunningham Falls and Gambrill State Parks and Mentor Program Lead, comments on Bobo’s work with the team, “I found working with Anthony Bobo to be very helpful. His experience provided an outside perspective as our committee developed the mentoring program for the Maryland Park Service. His feedback was honest, thoughtful and positive. It was obvious that he had a true passion for developing leaders in the field of natural resources management.” While Bobo's term with the Commission is over, his work with Maryland Park Service continues. “I enjoy being outdoors! And I will not just cut the friendships I have developed with the many Park employees across the state. I will be out there on foot, on my bike, or on a scenic drive visiting my friends and enjoying God’s creation.” C2L Going Forward6/1/2022 I am happy to announce through much prayer, meditation, and consultation, the following are some of the upcoming actions for the Commission to Love Community (C2L).
New Release of Commissioned to Love (https://iamintercultural.com/commissioned-to-love) We have been in conversations with the publisher about a new edition of Commissioned to Love. This new release will feature a section in memory of Pastor John P. Perkins' life. We are so grateful to God for his leadership, love, and commitment to community development. We believe this book is one of the ways his life is honored. We thank those of you who have purchased the book, used them for Bible Studies, and leadership training. We ask that you still support the C2L Community through the purchasing of the current edition of the book and we will have a look forward to announcing the new edition. Royalties are going to John's estate and supporting his family. The Aaron, Hur Pastors, and Leaders Cohort (https://www.rolm.life/the-cohort) John was one of the lead facilitators of the Cohort. He believed in investing and equipping leaders so they could engage in community development. This Cohort is one of the ways we keep supporting leaders he invested in, find up and coming leaders to impact communities, and serve churches across the country through training their leaders. Many of the leaders participating in the Cohort would not be able to be apart if we were not able to give out scholarships. At the close of this Cohort in December, we will officially name the scholarship "The Pastor John P. Perkins Emerging Leader Scholarship". We believe that the scholarship will continue to provide opportunities for leaders to be supported as they do the work of Christ in community. Weekly Post John and I have worked on several offerings of training, lectures, and courses of the book Commissioned to Love. Our team is working to post snippets weekly in this Community to encourage, inspire, and engage us as we work for Christ in community. We know there are hundreds of posts that you get weekly, we pray that this Community can be added to your list of places to receive refreshing, reviving, and relevant communication to cool our longing soul. Be A Part of The Team We have a small team that is working with us to keep this community together, helpful, and relevant. If you would like to be a part of the team, please email me @anthonybobo@josephfactor.com! We would welcome your assistance. Thank you again for being a part of this Community and walking this journey with us. Senior Associate Leads Discussion at The Sankofa “Change for Revitalization and Flourishing” Webinar5/30/2022 On the evening of May 12, 2022, at 8pm ET, the gathering started with PJ Morton blasting singing “The Better Benediction” while the accomplishments and announcement for The Sankofa Project played on the screen. The night began with a sense of hope, and that was just the start…
Mark Bobo (Associate, The Joseph Factor Group) welcomed the participants and assured them this was going to be a night to remember. Mark outlined the lineup for the night:
The Sankofa Project journey helps us understand the African American experience and acknowledges where we have been as a collective people. It allows us to open our hearts and minds to not only the pain and sorrow, but also to the hopes and accomplishments of our ancestors. It centers our spirituality deep in the Black church experience and opens our hearts and minds to the reconciliation and the healing God is calling us into. The message of Sankofa has found its expression in sermons and Negro Spirituals that speak to the pain and suffering, and the hope we find in God’s word to the Church and the people of God. As we learn from our past, we can forge a present and a future for our communities as we reimagine how the church can become more relevant, connected, empowering and transformative. The Sankofa Project will explore specific dynamics within the cities where these congregations are located and help congregants learn from the African American church tradition and how it is both a refuge of empowerment and a force of social transformation. Congregations/groups will leave this journey better understanding (or needing to refine) their mission and values and how they are fueled by their rich faith tradition. In keeping with the theological tradition of the African American church, congregations will look at five key areas of the life of their church and assess their congregation’s strengths and weaknesses: (1) preaching (2) building communities (3) worship (4) evangelism (discipleship). The Sankofa Project “Change for Revitalization and Flourishing” Webinar is to engage pastors and their lay leaders in reimagining how churches healthily navigate the realities of generational shifts, gentrification, growing multiculturalism, and emerging questions on the church’s role in justice considering movements such as black lives matter and mass incarceration. This webinar will not only state the issues, but established practitioners will share real life experiences, challenges, and successes to allow the participants to leave with tools for implementation and change. HERE is the link to the entire webinar experience! |