When I stay in Chicago until Monday, I try to use these opportunities to spend time with my parents and meet up with various people. There are still a lot of people that I need to/ want to meet up with (sorry it is taking so long).
This morning I met up with a pastor who is interesting in AMI. It has been good just sharing about the vision and mission of the AMI movement. It is amazing to discover that there are more pastors and leaders who are looking for a whole new paradigm in connecting with people in order to do missions and church planting.
Then I headed out to North Park University in Chicago to meet up with Soong-Chan Rah, a professor at the seminary who holds the New Milton B. Engebretson chair and is the professor of Church Growth and Evangelism.
It was interesting because many years ago, when I was part of the worship band, Alpha Omega in college, we led the praise for a revival meeting where he spoke. Since then he has spoken at various places including the Urbana Conference influencing many people. It was great reconnecting with him and catching up on various things.
Man, my synapses in my brain were firing at incredible speeds. There are just some people that when you sit down with them, you are challenged and your perspective on things just increase by a hundred-fold. We talked about everything from post-modernity to college church plants. His insights in urban church ministry and multi-ethnicity were particularly insightful. I also enjoyed his big heart for missions – it really made me think about the future of missions.
It is always a good thing when our paradigms and perspectives get a tune-up.