Senior Associate Leads IGM And RCA Partnership Discussion

“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 [email protected].