麻豆传媒听(PBA)听will welcome preachers,听students听and community members to the second annual听Voices for Change Preaching Festival, September 24 to 26, for a time of preaching, worship, reflection and transformation.听
A Mission Pursued听
Voices for Change听is听a jointly funded initiative between听Lilly Endowment Inc.鈥檚听Compelling Preaching Initiative听and PBA. The program听has听three听primary听components:听a yearlong听program听where students may earn a certificate in preaching,听the听annual Voices for Change Preaching听Festival,听and the Florida College of Preachers.听
Rev. Dr. Shawn Allen, one of the founders of Voices for Change,听says that the听program’s听goal is 鈥渢o cultivate a diverse and vibrant community of preachers who integrate spiritual formation, multicultural contextual discernment, biblical and theological depth, and skillful communication to facilitate congregational and societal change.鈥�听
“We’re trying to help students realize that preaching really starts with the preacher,”听explains Allen.听
A听New Experience听
This year, the听Voices for Change听Preaching Festival听will host a high school preaching slam听featuring听three high school students听delivering sermons. Allen听hopes that听this听event will become an annual tradition.听
The festival will also include multiple PBA students and听alumni,听both delivering听sermons听and leading worship.听
The festival will include sermons in听English,听Spanish听and Creole听to increase cultural inclusion.听
The festival will follow a learn and respond layout.听After a preacher delivers a message,听participants听will spend time in听worship,听followed by听a time of听guided reflection.听
“It’s not听just听people preaching in a row,”听states听Allen.听“It’s听a really thoughtful, participatory kind of an experience for those who are in attendance.”听
Dr. Mark Glanville, director of the Center for Missional Leadership at St. Andrews Hall, University of British Columbia, will be joining the festival as the keynote speaker.听
Glanville听will听bring his talents as both a听preacher and musician听by offering a jazz concert that will intertwine听these two arts.听
A Lasting Impact Recognized听
While听Voices for听Change听helps to amplify new voices, it听does not forget听those听preachers听who have听dedicated听years听to听serving听South Florida communities.听
During the festival, three preachers will be inducted into the Florida College of Preachers.听This听recognition honors individuals whose preaching ministries have made an impact听on听the South Florida region for at least a decade.听
Find out more about PBA鈥檚 School of Ministry听here.
