A Call for Prayer for St. Louis Churches

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 15:46:47 +0000

A Call for Prayer for St. Louis Churches

We’re grieved that as of today seven churches, most of which serve predominantly Black communities in the St. Louis area, have been intentionally set on fire since October 8th.��ñ�� has a significant presence in St. Louis, including our campus ministries, Urban Program, and the upcoming Urbana 15 Student Missions Conference this December. Though we do not know why these fires have been set, we pray for and stand with the Black community there as they experience fear, stress and uncertainty.

Michelle Higgins, a church leader from South City Church in Saint Louis who will speak at Urbana 15, noted today that whoever is doing this is having a grave impact on the community.“These are churches that are ministering in needy areas. North St. Louis is largely African American. Most Black churches will have a meal together each week, and many people who can’t afford to eat well regularly will get their one good meal at church.

Higgins called the Christian community to unite around these attacks. "This is a call for St. Louis churches to view one another as One Church, and not multiple churches. This is our opportunity to break down the barriers.”

As 16,000 people prepare to go to ��ñ��’s Urbana 15 in St. Louis, would you join us in praying for the churches and people of St. Louis? “We recognize that intercession and engaging the pain in the communities closest to us is an integral part of global missions,” said Urbana Director Tom Lin, ��ñ��’s Vice President and Director of Missions. “��ñ�� stands with St. Louis for the good of the world.”

��ñ�� is contributing to the fund to install security systems and conduct repairs at the seven churches targeted in these attacks.

UPDATE: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports an arrest has been made in the case.

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Christian Renewal in New York City

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 21:38:54 +0000

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Gordon Govier

Christian Renewal in New York City

��ñ�� alumnus and former staff member Mac Pier is profiled in an article now appearing on the website A Journey Through NYC Religions. Pier’s role in networking New York City pastors and churches is seen as one key contributing factor in the resurgence of Christian faith in the nation’s largest city.

The article written by Melissa Kimiadi highlights Pier's dedication to breaking down barriers that had isolated churches from each other and hindered their mission of sharing the gospel message with their New York City neighbors.

The Impact of Urbana

��ñ��’s Urbana Facebook page and Urbana Twitter feed are currently highlighting the influence of Urbana 12, ��ñ��’s latest Student Missions Conference, held in St. Louis one year ago this week. The article on Pier starts with his attendance at Urbana 79, highlighting the challenge by Billy Graham, John Stott, and other speakers to Urbana attendees 34 years ago, to take the gospel message to the entire world.

Pier, raised in a small town in South Dakota, responded to the challenge at Urbana. He began working with ��ñ�� students in South Dakota, then moved to New York City to become an ��ñ�� Area Director.

Reaching the World from One City

Ultimately he realized that he could reach the whole world through commercial connections and the immigrant populations in New York City. He left ��ñ�� and teamed up with another former ��ñ�� staff member, David Bryant, to start networking New York City churches through a Concerts of Prayer movement that began in 1988. The religious landscape in New York City has changed significantly since that time.

��ñ�� continues to have an active presence in New York City, with chapters on more than a dozen college and university campuses. In October ��ñ�� hosted the Price of Life Invitational in New York City, which touched the lives of more than 12,000 students and residents of the city.

In early January 2014 ��ñ�� staff will meet in St. Louis for a National Staff Conference. The theme is taken from the third and final portion of ��ñ��’s Vision Statement: “To see students and faculty transformed, campuses renewed, and world changers developed.” Mac Pier is one of ��ñ��’s world changers.

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Part 2 in this series of articles also starts with an ��ñ�� connection.

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