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My husband, Sherman recently launched GoodFit, a consulting and training company that focuses on issues of race, diversity, inclusion, and implicit bias.
For decades, Sherman has championed the cause of the poor as a former
Vice President of the City Gospel Mission's homeless shelter, by
sponsoring training and HopeFest events through Consider
Contrary to popular belief, the MARKETPLACE is our Mission field. Most clergy are bi-vocational, working in secular environments. Churches with over 1,000 members are only 2% of the US Church population. The idea that all preachers have fancy homes, cars, planes and full bank accounts is false. We are committed servants of Jesus and His Kingdom...with additional jobs that may have a greater reach. The Church, or ekklesia in Greek meant the political assembly of citizens to discuss legal matters. The New Testament Church's gatherings, or assemblies of called out believers occurred in homes or the temple courts. In the US, house churches have recently had a resurgence. "Church" was not a descriptor of a building or religious service, but of the people God chooses MARKETPLACE leaders, to be His deliverers and disciples: tax collectors, entrepreneurs, fishermen, politicians, prostitutes, and soldiers. Certainly the LORD also called prophets and priests, but even Jesus was a carpenter and Paul made and sold tents. The 'world' that we are commissioned to go into (Mark 16:15) is a marketplace, full of buying, selling and engagement in issues from which we are not to shy away. Daily, ministry occurs through educators, health professionals, entertainers, scientists, financial gurus, non-profit and social sector employees. Until we embrace the value and impact of Vocational Missionary assignments the way we do Global Missions - we will not win the world for Christ. |
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