Cities and Communities Conference Call
August 16, 2007
Host: Rev. Glenn Barth – President of GoodCities

Topic: The Worldwide Impact of Transformational Cityreaching
Guest: Dr. Luis Bush, International Facilitator – Transform World Connections

Glenn welcomed callers as they joined the call.

Announcements:
► Next Call: September 20, 2007 – David Bryant - The Coming Christ Awakening and Community Transformation
► Promise Keepers PK Adventure: Mobilizing men into community service, featuring Tony Dungy
► CIR 2008 – Boston, MA – The Braintree Sheraton Hotel, April 14-16, 2008

Introduction of Dr. Luis Bush

Glenn: Today we are privileged to have with us the Int’l facilitator for Transform World Connections. He coined the term 10-40 window, AD2000 and beyond. He is a wonderful, deep thinker about transformation in cities, nations and the world. Transform World USA 2007 was held in Washington D.C. July 4-5, with many first and second generation immigrants who have a heart and vision for revival in the American church and trans of American culture. Luis, Welcome.
Luis Bush: It’s a great privilege and joy to be with you.

Interview:

Glenn: Tell us about Transform World. What is the mission, the vision and goals?
Luis Bush: Transform World seeks to engage in the transformational mission of God blessing and healing nations, with the presence, peace and power of God. It is basic that communities become catalysts and connect servant catalysts in that vision and see the world transformed.

Glenn: What are the primary ways you are facilitating the work toward fulfillment of the goals?
Luis Bush: There is clear evidence that this has God initiated in the hearts of servants in an impacting manner. God has brought that perspective and call upon their lives, and they are seeking to bring that transformational initiative in their nations, working together with those from outside. I support those initiatives as they come from God’s servants, serving in a connecting group, sharing people resources, passion, expertise, certain streams of society in regional parts of the world - partnerships like the USA Consultation in Washington D.C. And we encourage prayer efforts with case studies and models, both historical and contemporary, that can inspire.

Glenn: In July, you facilitated a meeting in Washington, D.C. entitled Transform World USA 2007. Who was present for the meeting and what results came out of this consultation?
Luis Bush: This was a multi ethnic, multi national gathering of men and women of God whose hearts are seized by global transformation. Russell Begaye, Paul Chen-Pon Tseng,, Thomas Wong, Alberto Mottesi for Hispanics, Elijah Kim for Koreans, Stephen K. McDowell. Their names are on declaration. That declaration is available by clicking the link accompanying this posting. I sent information to Carolyn so she could send those documents to those who request them at info@cityreaching.com.

Glenn: How do you see this meeting relating to Mission America’s City Impact Roundtable and other movements currently pursuing transformation in U.S. Cities?
Luis Bush: Yes. One of the results coming out of previous meeting, conversation, this connection, pursuing together transformation in emerging movements, is the group with unique multi-cultural perspective. There is a commitment as immigrants to bring fresh vision in a time of fear and suspicion of the stranger in our midst. They are a blessing of God, bringing fresh vision, a passion to rebuild…
So it’s also a commitment to the Lord’s calling for his people to personal, family, church transformation. Those are the kind of commitments that came out. We are a fresh stream of gratitude, blessed in so many ways, wanting to be a blessing, a fresh stream in God’s transformative river. The vision is similar to the City Impact Roundtable (CIR.) This conversation today reflects the desire to be a part of the broader CIR context.

Glenn: I see what you are doing as key bridge builders. Cityreachers working in various cities are trying to reach out to immigrants coming to their cities, working together to see transformation.
Luis Bush: My role is to be a connecter and servant to existing initiatives. Each initiative is birthed in the heart of someone, and others come together to the table. There is potential for additional future meetings.

Glenn: As we talked yesterday, it sounds like some of those leaders might want to come to the CIR next year.
Luis Bush: Yes.
Glenn: Tell us how you envision people of good will working with Christians toward transformation in our cities. Would you share specific stories where this is happening? Often the dreams that even secular leaders have for cities and communities are beginning to match up with the ways we would hope kingdom transformation would come.
Luis Bush: Some stories – how the envisioning take place, you can work together with people with heart and vision. You shared about San Bernardino on your last call – Paul Ton is working for the transformation of San Bernardino. People are finding a place in initiatives. Hundreds of pastors are coming together, as a case in point. Another is Houston. Mission Houston has emphasized working together, vision casting, networking, to see the city transformed, bring together secular resources with a common vision. Another leadership development, a great initiative, having leaders who transform as a vision for leadership that is taking place in Houston and places like Brazil. The leader who transforms is a major focus. The workplace, Mission Houston, church planting, social action in the cities but an international dimension – what is important is that the U.S. is not an island, but connected. Somehow we need to connect mutuality, heart, vision, build bridges from Houston to Indonesia. There are connections to the state of Behar in India - the international dimension. Another model of this: Dave Welch in Houston is working to apply Biblical principles to various spheres of society, working with a U.S. Pastors Council, where transforming churches become transforming agents connecting in a transforming area council, calling church bodies to get engaged in an intentional way as salt and light, bringing transformation. Another good example is New York City, with Tim Keller at Redeemer Church, and Jayson Kyle, on the Global Cities Initiative. There are various initiatives in the U.S. People are coming together toward this vision of transformation.

Glenn: You talked about San Bernardino; I think they are working with a District Attorney, bringing people coming out of prison to find a productive place. The church has found a role there at the table in helping to plan a positive future not only for the prisoners but also for the schools. God is doing a significant work there, also in Houston and New York City. People of good faith are working with people of good will.

Glenn: What cities in the United States can you point to where Christians are applying Biblical Worldview Principles to all spheres of society, including church, family, marketplace, arts, media, education and government? Where are we in the process?
Luis Bush: Process is a good word to describe it. It begins in the hearts of people. It is good to see people like Sandy Wilson. God calls him to transformation in Memphis, to leave his pastorate. He wants to be quiet about it, but he is working with a significant intentional base, doing research, connecting various spheres. It encourages me that there are many like him, so many of you who have that birth, that seed in your heart. There are different levels of process implementation, various initiatives, applying biblical principles to bring change and renewal of culture in the U.S. Much work is being done. Implementation – not sure you can say it’s already happening.

Glenn: Obviously the seed is there. I remember a comment Rev. Schuler made: Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but no one can count the apples in a seed.
Luis Bush: We see some development more aggressively and intentionally in other nations, i.e. South Korea. There is enlarged the influence of the gospel in the city, very significant influence in various fields of society.

Glenn: Where can those on this call go to get further information about this movement? i.e. the story of Chuncheon.
Luis Bush: Email info@cityreaching.com for that story.
Glenn: could you give us a website for more information?
Luis Bush: www.transform-world.net this website from Singapore gives a picture of some more international aspects.
Glenn: The Transformational Covenant looks like an important document. It’s a 12 page document.
Luis Bush: 25 different focus groups wrote up that document, and the whole delegation gave support.

Glenn: you wanted a couple of people who have worked with you to comment.
Luis Bush: Tom Victor and Jay Kyle.
Jayson Kyle: We’re working with Luis Bush and his team, Redeemer Presbyterian Church and some more churches here to put on Transform World NYC 2009. We believe it is a tremendous opportunity to change NYC from a secular to a faith city, change from local to global catalyst. It will be Sept 9-11 in NYC. We will reflect together on core truths of the gospel that characterize God’s transformation, move prominent cities of the world. As we look at challenges in NYC and other cities, we will use NYC as a case study. We will visit Ground Zero, Wall Street, church planting and neighborhoods where dozens of languages are spoken. Then we will seek to put together a joint covenant agreement that would network us into an association to work specifically toward transformation of a city, not just having great churches. Redeemer Presbyterian Church is hosting this, along with Transform World connections. We are looking to have 70 cities from around the world involved. If anyone is interested, they can contact me Jayrcpc@redeemer.com.

Tom Victor: Houston has had vision for city reaching for a number of years. There are several organizations - Mission Houston, the Union Baptist Assn., Dave Welch, the Great Commission Coalition, Somebody Cares, Houston Prays. These groups have been collaborating. Houston Profile Project was a comprehensive research project with Baylor University. A few years ago, in seeking to develop a relationship between Houston and Indonesia. Indonesia began to pray for Houston. They hosted the first Transform World in May, 2005. Leaders from Houston participated. They scattered among focus groups. Some Houston leaders have participated in Transform World events, and have a feeling for development nationally. There were 17 Caucasians out of group of 90, initiated out of immigrant groups in U.S. and some from overseas. We met in Washington D.C. Great hope for city reaching movements was the passion of these groups to engage, perhaps more passionately than we do, to see America regain spiritual foundation. The Indonesia prayer network has grown to 523 prayer networks across the nation, with a potential prayer force of 5 million. They have been praying for us. We have been benefactors of great prayer. We see seeds beginning to spread. They have much to contribute.

Glenn: Here in Minneapolis, Kingdom Oil has partnered with a group in Kenya. They are prying for us, praying during our night. It helps give a world perspective. God’s people love and care for one another across the ocean.

Question and Answer
Phil Miglioratti, Chicago: First a comment: I think you’d agree that we don’t find many cities who have gone very far in cityreaching, but Houston has gone quite a way. My question: What are some of the blind spots (I hate to stereotype this) - the white church doing city reaching, ethnic groups coming with passion. What are the ways we misjudge each other? How do we do more than just know about each other, come to partnership?
Luis Bush: There is a process which we conducted in D.C. that was helpful to identify some of those blind spots. We need to come together before the Lord representing different ethnic communities with an open heart, then look to the values that have led this nation. We spend some time reflecting on those values, i.e. the Mayflower Compact brought a pamphlet to launch as a priority vision, then Congress, the Library of Congress, have someone with knowledge share with us these values. Ask where have we fallen short. Where are our blind spots? Ask God to show us. One of things that came forth was going back to a church manifesto that was read at the Lincoln Memorial in 1983, stating blind spots. Then we had a time of repentance, recognizing areas that have not been visited. Then blind spots with one another, inter-ethnic tensions. Address them specifically. For example, African- American with Korean tension. Multi tensions recognized. Arab/Israeli - Jewish. Generational – father/sons. Those tensions will surface. They are initiatives to bring reconciliation for the cohesive body of Christ across the nation. Then looking at what we need to restore to various needs in society. This is the process we went through in those few days; those surfaced in D.C.

Elijah Kim, Boston: Over the past four decades, immigrants came to the city and contributed to Christianity. They come from different backgrounds. We had a consultation five years ago. We are preparing for a consultation to investigate how the body of Christ in New England can be found. We’re going to have a consultation of 600 leaders from different ethnic groups. We found a pattern in Houston, NYC and Philadelphia. Different groups contribute to the city of God. We are preparing an international conference in Mungai, India. Luis, you have been successful in planning. How can the great multi-ethnicity in this country contribute to the growth of the kingdom of God?
Luis Bush: Thank you for your par, Elijah, especially in D.C. and now in Boston. There is a significant contribution coming from ethnicities and nations they represent. Church growth statistics show an average of three times faster growth taking place via ethnic groups over Caucasian. That’s a rough estimate, but I believe it is close. They bring a contribution of spiritual vitality. The Boston multi-ethnic event will bring vision and energy. There are multiple ways in which it is already happening. There are existing initiatives so there is a relational model. We’ve heard from Tom how international bridging is happening. The Church is growing globally, as in Africa and Latin America. How can we tap into the Holy Spirit’s movement to enlarge the gospel in depth, impact and scope.

Another caller, Boston: We are seeing Acts 1:8 – God is still doing it, Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth. We are seeing a similar dynamic here in Boston. Our vision is to see these streams of God – in the city of God there will be people from every tribe and nation. We are seeing inter-connections, life and vitality. Other streams need this. Cross-pollenization, where some of those burdens and barriers can be shared. This is the vision of our gathering Oct. 20th.

Phil Miglioratti: Back to the question I asked before. This call is for me a microcosm – just as there are different streams in each of our cities, why should we not expect different streams of cityreaching? Maybe it’s simplistic, but how do we move forward with the call, the anointing, the particular people God gives us that are distinct, but how do we do it with one heart, one mind, one voice?
Luis Bush: I appreciate that concern. I believe it is the heart of God calling us to work together. We are his disciples. In the functionality of cityreaching there are historic different streams of transformation in the U.S., different emphases and different ethnicities. We just capture God’s heart and desire – He uses different individuals who are anointed. We embrace them as servants. It is a challenge here in the U.S. It is a process – a divine appointment, a sense that this is the time, the opportunity, and often it’s related to a cultural crisis. If that’s the case in the U.S. right now, that’s our call to put aside our differences. God wants us to connect. Multi ethnicities, multi churches. Without the sense of crisis moment it won’t happen. Embracing Christian statesmen who say this is it, we need to work together.
Phil Miglioratti: Talking about different streams in cityreaching – it might be as simple as inviting others to our meetings.

Glenn: I think that’s especially helpful. When we hear of various meetings taking place, I think it’s up to us as leaders to be in communication with others. Part of our reason today is to hear from other streams.

Tom Victor, Houston Prays Task Force: One of the things we have discovered in Houston - we’ve started a citywide network. It grew out of Indonesia praying for us. We have recognized that what God is doing there in a kairos moment has caused them to be mentors to us. We are learning a tremendous amount from there. One thing we learned early on, there is a media network, a professional people network, a politicians network. The church is united. The Co-chairman was asked the secret of his success. He didn’t want to answer. Finally he just said, “I make friends.” He intentionally pursues people, builds trust and friendship with them, and out of that relational equity, that whole prayer movement has grown. Ethnic groups generally won’t put themselves forward. You have to pursue them. They have such rich gifts to give us – it’s worth pursuing.

Dwight Simmons, Charlotte, NC: This is exciting, the tone of city reaching, especially these ethnic groups in our communities. First we pray, and we become color blind. Relationships are so important. Do you see these challenges as a non-trust of each other or a fear of each other?
Luis Bush: In my humanness, those fears you are referring to, I think God is calling us to a new place, and this City Roundtable is one way He is bringing us together. He can put aside our differences as we seek to move in an intentional way.

Glenn: what are the causes of our division? In unity and love we need to consider what divides us. I was recently in. Ireland. There is a peace wall. It’s not reconciliation. It just divides Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods to stop the fighting. God calls us to love one another, to go beyond peace and have reconciliation. We thank Dr. Bush for all he has shared with us.

Dwight Simmons, Charlotte was asked to close in prayer.