Dr. Carl Ellis Seminar, Part 2 (Life Mission Recap)

Dr. Carl Ellis

Seminar, Part 2

Life Mission Recap

By Revered Bill Knight

“The African-American church might be the one’s called to carry the cross to the world.” (Dr. Ellis)

Dr. Ellis defines theology, as “the application of God’s words by persons in every area of life.”  His presentation highlighted the ways in which we live our lives daily through patterns that connect us through our biblical teachings and church influences.  He presented a number of ways in which values and issues have always defined and controlled our lives. These include personal (e.g. loneliness, anxiety and fear), social (education, health and family) and culture (survival and refuge). He shared that placing biblical truth into reality can only be done by connecting it to everyday situations. The historical perspectives from where we were reared in North America, and how it influenced our thinking about “missions” and the church’s role in missions shed light on how we view it today. Ellis challenged attendees to live out the word of God and to connect missions to daily situations for God, because he is a missionary God!

Dr. Ellis presented a balanced and enlightening perspective of where African Americans have come historically and culturally as a people, and its impact on the African American church as it relates to missions. This perspective, challenged participants to reevaluate their views versus the reality of what the Bible teaches. It also reminded attendees of ways in which life can be redefined by using the biblical example of missions as a way of life.  

Here are a few practical ways you can learn to expand your view of global missions:

1. By Inclusion. Integrate one “mission” related lesson each quarter into every Kingdom Citizen Institute (KCI) class. Emphasize the Bible message of the Great Commission. Update the Global Mission and Missionary Ministry sections of Kingdom Citizen Institute Orientation (KCIO) handbook. Ensure the Ministers In Training (MIT) program highlights missions as a lifestyle.
2. By Giving (time, talent, treasures).  Have one KLI facilitator offer the opportunity once per semester for a class participant to be a global team member reporter.  Based upon lessons learned during the semester, share their testimony.
3. By Committing.  Have a global mission’s participant bi-annually and/or quarterly share on Kingdom Citizen News (KCN) the impact of their service.  

I recommend that everyone hear this presentation!