We will have 15 different breakout sessions emphasizing different ways to creatively engage with justice, art, action, storytelling, technology, and more. All 15 breakout sessions will be repeated during the second breakout session time slot. There are some breakout sessions being done specific to age groups. The breakout sessions will help you to explore ways to practice justice locally, globally, creatively, prophetically, formationally, and more. Be sure to contact info@missionpossible2012.org if you have any questions!
Students Only!:
Led by Jolleen Quimba & Susan Conway
Did you know that there are 27 million slaves in the world today? That’s more than any other time in human history! God hates this injustice and wants us to do something about it. The good news is that God is using junior high students to make a powerful difference and help IJM bring rescue to hundreds of people each year. Come and hear from IJM staff as we share the stories of our work, and talk about what you can do to bring an end to modern-day slavery in our world today. We’ll discuss how to launch an IJM movement at your school or with your friends, and what you can do to stand-up for those who are forced to work as slaves all over the world. Every person matters. Join us!
Jolleen is originally from Portland, OR. She attended Northwest Nazarene University and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. Jolleen has devoted the past six years to teaching wonderful and hilarious third graders in a community outside of Boise, ID. In addition to teaching the last two years, she has assisted her colleagues as a Building Instructional Coach. Jolleen also attended Crossroads Community Church in Nampa, ID where she sponsored the youth ministry and was a worship leader. Currently, Jolleen serves as International Justice Mission’s Student Mobilization Fellow, helping to design cutting-edge, biblically-based justice curriculum for IJM, as well as mentoring and educating children’s ministry leaders on how to share God’s passion for justice with children.
Susan graduated from Boston College in 2001 with a degree in Elementary Education and Human Development and spent the following year teaching at the Munich International School in Germany. Upon her return to the U.S., Susan spent seven years as an elementary and middle school teacher in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. She holds a Master’s degree in International Education from George Washington University, and enjoys frequent travel to East Africa for training and curriculum development opportunities with marginalized populations. Susan currently manages IJM’s programs for K-12 students, working with youth leaders and teachers across the country to develop dynamic programs, curricula, and opportunities for students and leaders to engage with God’s heart for justice. Susan enjoys speaking to student groups across the country, and is passionate about empowering students to be agents of change in the world.
Seek God. Seek Justice. Bring Freedom. IN HIGH SCHOOL!
Led by Nate Joline & Kristen Miller
27 million people are held as slaves today. 800,000 children are trafficked across international borders every year. These are startling statistics. So, what can we do? What difference can students make to people suffering from human trafficking, slavery, and other forms of violent oppression? Well, it turns out that God has the answers – and he is using high school students to bring an end to modern day slavery! Come learn from International Justice Mission about God’s heart of justice, his great love for the oppressed, and how he is using high school youth to make a powerful difference in the lives of people suffering from violence here in the U.S. and around the world. Take action TODAY and join the movement.
Nate received his BA in Economics and Statistics from Penn State University in 2008. While at Penn State he co-led the IJM campus chapter and was very active in the Penn State Dance MaraTHON, an annual yearlong effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer, which since 1977 has raised over $78 million. In his role as an IJM Justice Advocate, Nate serves alongside IJM’s Church Mobilization team to encourage and equip churches, students, and community groups with resources, information and opportunities to deeply engage in biblical justice prayer, study and ministry. Nate speaks with college, high school groups, and at youth mission conferences, and leads volunteer events for IJM. He is from Lancaster, PA and still misses his mom’s home cooking as well as other great things Lancaster has to offer such as amazing baked goods at Central Market and much less traffic! Currently, Nate lives in Falls Church, VA and works as a security analyst. He attends Frontline at McLean Bible Church and enjoys playing soccer and the guitar.
Kristin graduated from Messiah College in 2010 with her B.A. in Human Development and Family Sciences. While at Messiah, Kristin led the IJM Campus Chapter and was a very active Young Life leader. She is from Lancaster, PA and currently works as a coordinator in the Diversity & Inclusion Department at Lancaster General Health. Additionally, she works as a Field Interviewer with Penn State’s Survey Research Center, collecting necessary data for studies on first-time parents. In her role as an IJM Justice Advocate, Kristin serves alongside IJM’s Church Mobilization team to encourage and equip churches, students, and community anti-trafficking groups with resources, information and opportunities to deeply engage in biblical justice prayer, study and ministry. Kristin speaks with college and community groups, and leads volunteer events for IJM. When Kristin isn’t working or spending time visiting the DC area on the weekends, she pours time into making handmade flower accessories.
Spiritual Formation and Social Justice for Students
Led by Mike Croghan & Sara Sheppard
In Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), the righteous ask the King, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” And the King replies, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Who are the “least of these brothers and sisters” of the King? The truth is that at some point in our lives, each of us will be one of the “least of these” – each of us will find ourselves hungry, or thirsty, or lonely, or in need of material help, or sick, or in need of justice. But also: each one of us has been gifted by God with a unique combination of spiritual gifts, talents, preferences, passions, and circumstances that equip us to serve and bless others – to bless the “least of these” that we in particular (as individuals and communities) are called to serve.
The only way we can find out who we are called to serve is to come to understand who God made us to be, and to become more fully that person. That process – of understanding how God made us, and becoming more like God’s dream for us – is called spiritual formation.
We’ll explore how spiritual formation can help us to understand God’s unique and ever-changing call to service, mission, and justice for each of us, by telling one another our own stories of formation and service. We all have valuable gifts and stories to share, so this will be a session in which we learn from each other.
Mike Croghan grew up in a “spiritual but not religious” family that rarely went to church. After a spiritual journey that included a study of world religions, grappling with his own bipolar disorder, and three years as a practicing Tibetan Buddhist, Mike returned to his childhood roots in the Anglican/Episcopal church tradition. Today he’s a member of two church communities, both in Vienna, Virginia: a medium-sized Episcopal church, and a small, trans-denominational “emerging” church called the Common Table, which he serves as a member of the leadership team. Mike also volunteers with several local missions organizations in Northern Virginia. He pays the bills developing mobile and web software for USA Today.
Sara Sheppard is a native of the Washington DC area and a lifelong United Methodist. She received her call to ministry on a youth retreat when she was a senior in high school. Sara received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University College University of Maryland in 2000. In May 2012 she will receive a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary, where she has worked full-time and studied for the past nine years. In her work at the seminary Sara administrates several academic programs including the summer school and a school for local pastors. Sara is a certified candidate for ordination in the United Methodist Church and hopes to become an elder in full connection and to serve in the local church in the near future.
Sara has also served as the Director of Christian Education at North Bethesda UMC for the past four years working with all ages and has most recently redesigned a children’s Sunday School program. She has a heart for mission and has traveled with youth groups to Appalachia as well as led groups to Mississippi to rebuild after hurricane Katrina. She co-leads the DC emerging cohort that meets once a month to share a meal and discuss a wide range of topics with like minded emerging pastors and lay people. She looks forward to continuing to serve God through works of mercy and through the sharing of God’s Word.
Open to All Breakouts:
Welcoming the Outsider
Led by Marty Bywaters-Baldwin and David Cea
In this session Marty Bywater-Baldwin and David Cea will help us explore how unexpected friendships can show us the love of God.
Born in North Carolina, Marty lived and worked in Central America for three years after college. While working for a Christian disaster relief organization in El Salvador, Marty met David and several other Salvadoran friends who taught him about Spanish, soccer, and the Kingdom of God. While later working on his Master of Divinity at Regent College in Vancouver, BC, Marty studied ways that the developing world can present a fresh take on the Good News for North America. Marty now lives in Culpeper, VA, with his wife Sara and daughter Anna. He coordinates an employment program for youth through Goodwill Industries and enjoys picking raspberries with his daughter in their backyard garden.
After embracing God’s love whole-heartedly, David and several of his friends founded an urban community church called Ruta 3:16 in El Salvador’s capital city of San Salvador. David worked with non-profits for a number of years, assisting the most marginalized members of Salvadoran society. With one organization, David coordinated disaster relief and development projects in poor communities. He also initiated another program designed to re-integrate former gang members into society. Currently, David resides in Washington, DC, with his two beautiful daughters and his wife Lucy. David enjoys spending his days by capturing life as a photographer, writing, speaking, and contemplating the love of God.
Redemptive Art
Led by Caitlin Beidler
The Redemption Art breakout session will be a creative exploration of art and justice through doing art and interactive defining and discussion. Caitlin Beidler (a featured collaborator) will share about her personal experiences with art and justice through her community mural projects in places like Haiti and Kenya. This breakout session will also steer you to explore your personal calling towards art and justice.
Fair Trade
Led by Lee Owsley
Lee Owsley is a teacher turned entrepreneur who now owns and runs Latitudes, a fair trade store in Warrenton, VA. After seeing fair trade in action on a recent trip to Guatemala she turned her passions of travel, art, and international justice issues into a business. She loves combining her work with her ministry and seeing God change lives through consumerism with a conscience.
Fair Trade forum: Does God care how we spend our money? Can shopping well promote justice and change the planet for the better? Come find out how you can be a part of a positive alternative to mindless consumerism.
A Response to Bullying: Justice or “Just-Us”
Led by Wayne Bennett
Bullying is a crime! What may be the biggest crime of all is when someone witnesses bullying and does absolutely nothing about it… especially a Christian! Yet there are many who profess to be followers of Christ who either witness someone being bullied, are victims of bullies, or worst of all, are bullies themselves and yet say or do nothing. This is diametrically opposed to the message, method, and essence of Jesus Christ. God is a God of justice and the bible is riddled with stories and instances of God’s view of justice and how God deals with injustice directed towards His creation.
In this workshop we will deal with the heart of bullying and view through a biblical lens at what our responsibility is as Christians in response to bullying. Also, we will examine the moral actions that must be taken to reduce, and prayerfully eliminate the threat of bullying among our nation’s youth. Be ready to engage in some spirited discussions that will empower our youth to God’s “justice” and not things that are about “just-us”!
The Reverend Wayne E. Bennett is the son of Robert and the late Wilhelmenia Bennett. He was raised between Summerton, SC and the Washington, DC metropolitan area. He is a product of Prince George’s County Public Schools. He later continued his educational quest by earning a BS degree in Management and Technology from the University of Maryland, University College; a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity; a Master of Arts in Teaching from Trinity College in Washington, DC; and has completed the core classes of Doctoral studies in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University.
Reverend Bennett has always had a passion for young learners; as such, he has been an educator for 15 years. He has extensive experience working with youth and has been blessed to be: a mentor in the Rites of Passage ministry, a teacher in the children’s church ministry, and a member of the prison ministry at Ebenezer AME Church in Ft. Washington, Maryland prior to coming to St. Mark AME Church.
Reverend Wayne E. Bennett is the former youth minister and is currently the Minister to Men at St. Mark AME Church in Oxon Hill, Maryland under the guidance of Pastor Sterlin Powell. He has also served on the Community of Faith Committee, which is an organization comprised of three churches in the Oxon Hill community bringing businesses, churches, and law enforcement together to combat crime and facilitate a more proactive approach to community development. Reverend Bennett accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior on March 31, 1989 and was baptized in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in November 1990. He is married to the Reverend Erica Bennett who is his co-laborer in ministry, and they have three wonderful children: D’Antione, Nigel, and Nyah.
Sustainable Farming: make it healthy, beautiful, tasty, and regenerative!
Led by Jesse Straight
Jesse Straight has a small family farm in his hometown of Warrenton, Virginia featuring sustainable pasture-raised chickens, turkeys, pigs and cattle! His family raises everything with the purpose of allowing the animal to thrive naturally so that it does not need chemicals, antibiotics, etc. and so the animals, land, eaters, farmers (us!), and larger community can flourish! We want it healthy, beautiful, tasty, and regenerative!Jesse will present the story of his vocation to this work, how he can actually farm this way (with photo slideshow), why those practices are so beneficial to the animals, land, eaters, farmers, and larger community, and why as Christians this is an exciting call to holiness in our most fundamental aspect of life!
Filmmaking & Spirituality
Led by Scott Brignac
Scott will lead a conversation about the art of honest storytelling. He’ll discuss what makes films bad or good, and how to navigate the culture of Christianity in filmmaking. Scott will also show some excerpts from some of his film projects.
Scott is a filmmaker who composed a series of short films titled Self-Sabotage, based on Derek Webb’s latest album Feedback, a musical interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer. Scott will be leading a breakout session and showing his film during our interactive worship experience.
Make Meaning.
Led by Brody Bond
We find meaning by asking a simple question. Do you know which one?
We make meaning by translating reality in stories. These stories are essential in both revealing the way the world ought to be and inspiring people toward action.
Learn the importance of making meaning with your life and discover how your story is a part of shaping the world.
Music and Social Change
Led by Derek Webb
Derek Webb may be the most dangerous man in the music business. At a time when major labels are struggling to reinvent themselves, and artists are desperate to hold on to a rapidly shrinking audience that doesn’t always pay for its music, singer/songwriter Derek Webb continues to make iconoclastic, irresistible, radio‐ready pop records about love and war and social justice. However, unlike most pop artists on the scene today, Webb’s engaged, committed fan‐base is constantly expanding – in part because Derek Webb has a tendency to give his music away for free through the website he co-founded called Noisetrade.
Restorative Justice: Expressing God’s Heart for Justice
Led by Lynette Parker
While crime and victimization can polarize and damage communities, they also offer an opportunity for transformation. The concept of restorative justice offers a lens through which painful and destructive events can be addressed and resolved in a way that offers the hope of restoration and transformation. In this way, it resonates with the relational conception of justice found in Christian scriptures. This can be seen in the works of mercy, evangelism and reconciliation carried out by Prison Fellowship International around the world. This breakout session will explore the theme of restorative justice as an expression of God’s justice through stories from Prison Fellowship around the world.
Lynette Parker, programme manager in the area of justice, has worked at Prison Fellowship International for eleven years. Through her travels to work with various Prison Fellowship national organizations, she has witnessed the transformative power that comes through the pursuit of justice through building relationships and meeting both material and spiritual needs. This experience also led her to volunteer as a restorative conferencing facilitator for the Piedmont Dispute Resolution Center in Warrenton, VA, where she works to bring together crime victims and offenders for dialogue.
People First: Using Language to Foster an Environment of Respect
Led by C. Randy Early
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. How many times have you seen or felt evidence to the contrary? Mark Twain is noted as saying “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” In this session we will explore language, and learn how to correctly speak about individuals with disabilities in a way that promotes dignity and respect.
Randy was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology and Anthropology, along with a Masters of Teaching in Exceptional Education. Randy had his first experience working with individuals with disabilities when he was fifteen and began volunteering at Camp Rainbow Connection. Camp Rainbow Connection is a week-long summer respite camp for adults (16+) with intellectual disabilities held in Blackstone, VA as a ministry of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Randy now teaches students with moderate intellectual disabilities at James River High School in Chesterfield County, VA. He was recently recognized with an R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence which is going to afford him the opportunity to travel to England and Ireland to explore and experience how individuals with intellectual disabilities are educated, incorporated, supported, and encouraged to demonstrate independence.
Leaders Only!:
Journey Toward Justice (For Leaders)
Led by Jim Melson
The Rev. Dr. Jim Melson is the Director of The Cornelius Corps – a ministry that develops transforming relationships among people in the suburbs and inner city of the Washington, DC area. The Cornelius Corps is based at New Community Church in the Shaw neighborhood of DC. New Community is one of the faith communities of The Church of the Saviour. Jim is an ordained United Methodist minister and an adjunct professor at The John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington, VA.
This breakout focuses on developing spiritual practices that form the foundation for discerning and following God’s call to justice. Examples from the civil rights movement of the 50′s and 60′s as well as from our contemporary society help us to reflect on what it means to pursue justice in our day and time.
Justice & Discipleship: Taking your Youth & Congregation on a Journey of Discovering God’s Passion for Justice.
Led by Christa Hayden
At the root of it, justice is not just a mission action, it’s a discipleship issue – do followers of Jesus know God as the God of justice and righteousness who calls his people to seek justice and rescue the oppressed? In this workshop, International Justice Mission staff will provide youth leaders and college students with a process for helping your youth groups, campus, and congregation develop a deep-rooted biblical foundation and a passionate heart for justice. You will also discuss practical ideas and receive cutting-edge resources to help lead your students into exploration and ministry around God’s passion for justice and restoration.
Christa Hayden serves as a Director of Church Mobilization for International Justice Mission. In this role, Christa engages congregations in the biblical call to seek justice. She speaks at churches throughout the Mid-Atlantic, equipping, and mobilizing adults and students to begin their journey of prayer, study, and engagement in both local and international justice ministry. Previously, Christa served as the Director of Aftercare for IJM Cambodia where she trained and led national social workers to provide crisis care, placement coordination, trial preparation and case management services for trafficking survivors. She originally began ministering to youth suffering from abuse while serving on Young Life staff, so she has a special passion for equipping youth leaders to understand issues of violence and effectively seek justice and restoration. Christa holds a Master’s in Social Science Administration (accredited MSW) from Case Western Reserve University and a B.A. in Political Science and African & African Diaspora Studies from Tulane University.
