5 Reasons Why You Should Come to the Justice Conference Simulcast

If you have ever had the experience of trying to convince someone to enjoy an amazing and worthwhile time then you know how I am feeling right now. The Justice Conference is taking place next weekend and I’m so grateful that our church Grace Chapel has agreed to be a simulcast partner site and I hope you can be part of it.

To those of you who already know you are coming, we’d be grateful if you spread the word, share this post and our other links and make a diligent effort in inviting others. The more justice-seekers gathered next weekend, the better. Not for the sake of attendance but for the good that can come out of this.

I know some are trying to figure out if this gathering is for you and so here are my 5 reasons of why you should come.

1. To get deeper in the conversation
You may be new to the idea of social justice or a veteran of it but regardless of the length of time you’ve spent in the conversation, it keeps evolving and your involvement shapes it. All complicated and redemptive things evolve as this part of the nature of participation, community and thank God, positive outcomes in the midst of more work to be done. Let’s help each other go deeper here.

I’d like to extend a special invitation to those who are on the fence and perhaps a bit apprehensive of the term “social justice.” From my experience at the conference in Philly last year, I had a few moments where I thought to myself, “I wish those who are skeptical would hear this because I think it would really help.” Upon understanding the Scriptural roots of the movement, I often hear people say, “Oh, well I think that too, I was just thrown off by that term.”

We all call it different things: social-justice, missional-living, serving the Kingdom of God,  etc. We’re not gathering to rename it, again, we’re gathering to go deeper with what we’re doing.

2. To be with other justice-minded people
There is such goodness in being with other people who share some commonality yet are in various stages of life/practice/perspective/gifting/experience/passion/need I go on? You will meet different and similar people, including many who are also trying to figure out how to live justly in such a busy, complicated yet redemptive time as this.

At every event, there’s always this moment when you wonder if you should talk to the person next to you or the person “over there.” I mean, does anyone need another awkward moment? But the thing is when you attend these types of gatherings, there is already a context to whatever conversation you’re about to begin because you are here together. So questions like, “What did you think of the last presenter?” and “What’s been the highlight of your morning here?” can not only lead to stimulating conversation, but often friendships, connections, and serving opportunities.

Connecting with others is one of my favorite aspects of being at a conference. You just can’t get it from the podcast or the video playback. It’s the gift of being here.

3.  The Speaker line up is incredible this year
It was great last year and it’s amazing this year with a balance of practitioners, story-tellers and thinkers. There is also a fair amount of ethnic and gender diversity – something I look for in our evangelical gatherings (*ahem).
Presenters include Bernice King, N.T. Wright, Eugene Cho, Richard Stearns Jenny Yang, Stephen Bauman, Lynn Hybels  and so many more.
Check out the full list and bios here.

4. Pre-Conferences!
The Pre-Conference workshops were one of my favorite parts last year.  There are so many great things happening locally but it’s often hard to find a local organization to partner with. We hope our pre-conferences make introductions, create greater awareness, and help each other know what’s happening throughout our community.

One of the best parts of this is having the opportunity to ask questions to those who are serving in these needs everyday. I remember attending a workshop on clean water and asking and hearing questions like “Why do people who don’t have access to clean drinking water stay there?” “What happened to all those wells that were built and rebuilt?” “What happened to all that money that’s already been given?”

You will learn a lot about how other cultures function, how in some places, wells are guarded by gangs, and though there has been terrible corruption, so many more people have clean drinking water because of these efforts. While I expect that we will be horrified by some of the answer we receive, we will also be grateful for so much of the goodness happening (and the goodness possible).

Here in the Greater Boston area, we have an opportunity to serve those near us and those far from us. Come hear more at our Pre-Conferences – schedule posted below.

5. To help answer the question, “Will any good actually come out of this?”
One of the themes of last year’s gathering was that justice is a marathon. We can’t give up too early, we have to celebrate the small victories, encourage each other, and seek God’s strength in fighting oppression, loving the forgotten and working towards redemption.

I’m a jaded soul. I even suffer from a bit of compassion fatigue. I know this weekend doesn’t work for a lot of people. Besides, this is a day and half of sitting and listening. I know there are a lot of shortcomings to this whole pursuit of seeking justice. So why did I want to be a part of organizing this thing?

Well, in addition to the aforementioned 4 reasons, I believe that God is in this. I believe that God is at work in so many ways and part of this is figuring out how we get to join Him in the work of justice and redemption. It’s what happens after we sit and listen that often changes things. It’s the getting up and doing and we become much more effective with that because we’ve received greater awareness, more clarity, we have formed friendships, found new opportunities. Often we leave with significantly more than what we came with.

I hope you can make it to the Justice Conference this year as so much good is possible as we allow our souls to settle on this year’s theme of a “Voice of Justice”

Here are the helpful links for info and registration (only $34).

Just a heads up, the registration will close Thursday 4PM EST. All registrations are online (no cash or checks please) and computers will be available in our lobby but my advice is to avoid the walk up line, register at home before the deadline and get in faster. Hope to see you there!

Main Justice Conference Site – www.thejusticeconference.com

Registration Link – https://thejusticeconference.wufoo.com/forms/simulcast-registration-2014/
Grace Chapel Simulcast Site – http://www.grace.org/article382896.htm?body=1
Please spread the word with Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/events/1389715207955455/

2014 Voices: Ken Wytsma from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.

 

The Justice Conference [Boston] Schedule:

  • Free Pre-Conference Workshops begin Friday, 2/21 at 1:00pm all Pre-Conferences are at the Grace Chapel Adult Learning Center, 2 Militia Dr. Lexington, MA , on Feb. 21st
    • 1:00-2:00pm 
      • Brooke Sulahian – “One Woman at a Time…Bringing Hope to Women with Fistula” – Hope for Our Sisters – http://hopeforoursisters.org –  Room 105
      • Bonnie Gatchel – “Demystified: The Truth About Strip Clubs and the Women Who Work There” – Route One Ministry http://lovedbyrouteone.org  – Room 103
      • Jonathan Chen – “The Story of the Thirsty” – Living Water International New England – http://water.cc –      Room 202
      • Chai Ling – All Girls Allowed – Room 101
    • 2:15-3:15pm
      • Todd & Leslie Engelsen – “Three Entrepreneurs, Four Volunteers, and the Kingdom of Heaven”  – PEER Servants  – www.peerservants.org – Room 105
      • Joyce Shetler Holt – “Live Love: Empoweriing the 1 out of 3 Women Inside and Outside the Church Who Secretly Experience Domestic Violence” – Hagar’s Sisters – www.hagarssisters.org – Room 201
      • Damaris Taylor – “Rethinking Short-Term Student Missions” -The Boston Project Ministries – www.tbpm.org – Room 205
      • Chai Ling – All Girls Allowed – Room 101
    • 3:30-4:30pm
      • Brooke Sulahian – “One Woman at a Time…Bringing Hope to Women with Fistula” – Hope for Our Sisters – http://hopeforoursisters.org –  Room 105
      • Bonnie Gatchel – “Demystified: The Truth About Strip Clubs and the Women Who Work There” – Route One Ministry http://lovedbyrouteone.org  – Room 103
      • Jonathan Chen – “The Story of the Thirsty” – Living Water International New England – http://water.cc –      Room 202
      • Chris Gleason – “Why Choose Life” – Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices – Room 101
    • 4:45-5:45pm
      • Todd & Leslie Engelsen – “Three Entrepreneurs, Four Volunteers, and the Kingdom of Heaven”  – PEER Servants  – www.peerservants.org – Room 105
      • Joyce Shetler Holt – “Live Love: Empoweriing the 1 out of 3 Women Inside and Outside the Church Who Secretly Experience Domestic Violence”- Hagar’s Sisters – www.hagarssisters.org – Room 201
      • Damaris Taylor – “Rethinking Short-Term Student Missions” -The Boston Project Ministries – www.tbpm.org – Room 205
      • Chris Gleason – “Why Choose Life” – Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices – Room 101

    —–

  • Simulcast Schedule (registration required):

◦           Friday 2/21, 7:00pm-10:00pm 

◦           Saturday 2/22, 9:00am-10:00pm – UPDATED NOW CONCLUDING AT 10:00PM

 

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