UNITY 2015 - October 17, 2015 - Saturday Overview
9 AM – 10 AM Morning First Plenary Session Our main speaker Alejandro (Alex) Mandes D. Min.
EFCA Director of Immigrant Mission, Founder and Executive Director of Immigrant Hope. Alejandro grew
up along the Texas Mexico border in Laredo Texas. He has advanced degrees in Social Work from the
University of Texas and Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. For his doctoral degree he researched.
Alejandro is a student of culture and reconciliation. He has worked as a church planter, pastor, and also
serves as the Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Evangelical Free Church of America. In this capacity,
he has created the GATEWAY Theological Institute, which provides informal theological training for urban
and low-income pastors. He is now the acting director of All People ministry which includes ethnics,
immigrants and poverty programs.
10:15 – 11:10 AM – BREAKOUT SESSION TOPICS & PRESENTERS Room Information on site.
Dr. Alejandro Mandes (Our Morning Speaker) will also be leading a morning breakout session titled;
“Reconciliation Lessons from the Bible” Lessons from the early church in dealing with multiethnic
challenges in the church and Paul/John’s foresight in dealing with potential strife. 1. Put emphasis on
spirituality not entitlement. 2. Put anybody, including the minority, in leadership that meet that condition 3.
Intentionally select, mentor and empower diversity ahead of the need for diversity to lead and 4. Emphasize
love – for “love covers a multitude of sins.”
Jeff Rosenau presents “From Debate to Christlike Dialogue - Jeff is founder of the ministry “Christlike
Dialogue” and the author of “When Christians Act Like Christians: God’s Call to Christlike Civility.” Jeff will
present "From Debate to Christlike Dialogue” which will help you to engage others in respectful
conversation. Attend this workshop to learn biblical principles for communicating in ways that glorify God.
You will be challenged to embrace conflict as opportunity to love your neighbor; understand the need for
grace and truth; and grasp significant differences between debate and Christlike dialogue. Y ou will leave
prepared to build friendships as you peacefully discuss differences.
Rob Abraham, Shini Abraham and Mrs. Rosa Fries present Building Cross-cultural Bridges a Panel
Discussion: The two featured panelists for this session are Mrs.Shini Abraham (Indian American) and
Mrs.Rosa Fries (Mexican American) - both of whom have extensive and ongoing cross-cultural ministry
experience and will be very articulate / engaging, and happy to answer a few questions as time permits or
as necessary. This topic emphasizes acts of concern and kindness, and the principles and practice of
building healthy inter-cultural relationships. Hear our panelists talk from their experience on connecting with
ethnic groups in the local area and abroad, and hear actual examples of multi-cultural friendship outreach
situations. There will be opportunities to interact with panelists, ask questions and learn together. We hope
participants will come to understand and value that God created all nations, loves diversity, and also loves
them with a sacrificial love. Ethnicity is a great reflection on God’s creativity, and is not an enemy, but an ally
and a friend.
Outreach / Worship in a Diverse Culture presented by Jude Del Hierro Jude and his wife Cindy
Founders and Directors of Confluence Ministries. Jude and Cindy Del Hierro are natives of Colorado and
have been in ministry around the Denver area for over 30 years. For twelve of those years, they served as
founding associate pastors of an inner-city church. In 2003, together with a team of volunteers from several
churches, they founded Confluence Ministries. Jude, widely regarded as "the" collaborator, is a catalyst for
building constructive relationships across the boundaries of society, culture, and faith communities. His
passionate leadership in outreach, worship, and networking has been a profound inspiration throughout the
city and with many congregations and ministries. Their values mean serving as God’s visible, relevant and
practical expression of love and compassion to others.
Mission & Migration with Speaker: José Kabeya of Denver Rescue Mission. Do you Know the
Refugee? Did you know Colorado is among the top 20 refugee-resettling states in the United States? Or
that we have an average of about 1,800 refugees per year? The number of people living as refugees from
war or persecution exceeded 50 million in 2013 and is climbing significantly higher in 2015. In this session
you will learn how you and/or your congregation live out your faith and calling through welcoming refugees
in the name of Christ and also loving them unconditionally. José Kabeya was born in Congo and lived in
Russia for 4 years. In 2002, he moved to the U.S.A. and is currently the coordinator of the Denver Rescue
Mission - Family Refugee Services program and also the founder and acting director of Morning Star Center
for Social Progress which is devoted expressly to spreading the Good News of Jesus and providing social
improvement opportunities to impoverished African communities.
11:25 AM – 12:25 PM Morning Plenary Session – Worship with Jude Del Hierro and Confluence ministry.
Plenary message by Dr. Dieumème Noelliste will be “ Living Who We Are: Our Responsibility to
Society”. Dr. Noelliste is a Professor of theological ethics and the Director of the Grounds Institute for
Public Ethics. He previously served as president of the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, is a
member of several theological and academic associations and his previous law study offers a practical
element to his theological teaching. While presenting us with some of the basic theological themes such as
God, Humanity, the Church and Holy Spirit During Dr. Noelliste will challenge Christians take these
doctrines seriously. If we are to live ourlives according to the tenets of our faith, the way we relate among
ourselves and to society would have no room for racist attitudes and behaviors.
12:35 – 1:20 PM ETHNIC LUNCH PROVIDED Room Location and Information on site.
1:35 – 2:25 Plenary Session w Korean Drum Team and the DoYouKnowMe Choir will get our blood
moving after lunch. During this session we will hear three “Ted Talk” style presentations focusing on the
power of relationship. Michelle Warren is the Advocacy and Policy Engagement Director for the Christian
Community Development Association, and she will share a story about “Proximity”. Rev. Dr. Thomas
Mayes of Living Water Church and ESCAPE Ministries will ask us to consider why we may hesitate to
engage that one “particular” neighbor. John Patterson of Save our Youth (Filling in for Luis Villareal) will
share his personal story and passion for mentoring relationships. You will be able to follow up and spend
more time with any of the speakers after this session.
2:35 – 3:35 PM BREAKOUT TOPICS & DESCRIPTIONS Room Information on site.
Michelle Warren will presents "Expensive Engagement, Doing Justice Alongside Immigrants"
Seeking the welfare of our communities is good and required by the Lord (Micah 6:8). Loving mercy is a
reaction to the present, pressing problems in the immediate moment. Taking time to really understand
Proactive and “Just” responses requires a bit more “doing” and engaging. That level of engagement can
often lead us to ask; how committed do we really need to be to love our neighbors as ourselves? This
session will give a very personal look into justice work which includes confronting systems that keep people,
specifically immigrants trapped in a broken system. While we know that these injustices cannot be ignored,
we need to build wisely so that the work we do together is reflective of a shared journey toward the
alleviation of injustice.
“Fear and Prejudice” Come and Pray Your Heart with our facilitators; Pastor Andy Millar and Pastor
Thomas Mayes. Pastor Andy Millar is the son of missionaries and has planted a MultiEthnic church in the
Denver area. He has lead that church plant for the past 6 years and prayer is the only fuel that keeps this
ship on course. Prayer was what enabled this church to start. Even the name, Light of the Nations, came
out of a prayer meeting. It is his conviction that earnest, faithful devout prayer is the start and finish of any
kind of work of God that sustains and bears fruit. Rev. Dr. Thomas Mayes is a Denver Native, married with 3
children and 6 grandchildren. He is celebrating 37 years in ministry and 25 years as Senior Pastor of the
Living Water Christian Center Church in Aurora CO. He has his Associates degree in Business
administration, BA in Christian Theology and PhD in Urban Ministries, teaching and serving in the U.S. and
South Africa. For 25 years he has served as the Founder/CEO of E.S.C.A.P.E. (Everyone Sharing Child
Abuse Prevention Education) You will find a range of “church” perspective to join you in refreshing prayer.
“Planting a Multiethnic Church” will be presented by Jeremiah Clapper - Director of Multi-Ethnic Church
Planting for the Evangelical Free Church. In this workshop you will learn principles needed for planting an
effective Multicultural / Ethnic Church – even in an ever changing society. We will discuss the meaning and
characteristics of “Multi-Ethnic Church" - and ask the question; Is this a new concept or has it been around
for centuries?
“Is Race a National or Personal Issue?” A Conversation Presented by Drs. E. D. & Dr. Anne Allen
This is your chance to have open dialogue about issues that may seem taboo. What impact does (or
should) World or National news have on my personal relationships? How I love my neighbor? This will be a
safe but open dialogue facilitated by the Dr. Anne Dondapati Allen is adjunct faculty in Gender and Women’s
Studies at the University of Denver, Colorado Women’s College where she has been teaching for the past
six years. Anne is also full-time staff chaplain at University of Colorado Hospital. In addition to her
academic and ministerial commitments Anne has worked with displaced populations including refugees and
the homeless and has a passion for providing advocacy around gender issues. Anne and her husband Dr.
E.D. Allen bring their expertise on religious, racial and cultural issues to training lay and clergy and to
religious and secular contexts. Dr. E. D. Allen is the Executive Minister for the 21st Century Church of Christ
and serves as President and CEO of the Center for Disaster and Displacement Services. Dr. Allen is
trained in psychology, theology, business and disaster management. His work includes over 20 years in
ministry; strategic programs for multi-ethnic, multicultural and interfaith communities.
4:05-4:50 PM – Final Plenary Session & Call to Action Worship, Message, Communion, Prayer &
Shofar!
Dr. Russell Stands-Over-Bull will be our last speaker of the day and in many ways we have saved the
best for last! He will be sharing his heart for UNITY and the power of God to acomplish more than we ask
or think! Dr. Stands-Over-Bull and his family have been characterized as Bridge Builders and Russell’s
passion is and has been - to build lasting unity in the kingdom. He is currently part of the pastoral staff at
Arrow Creek Christian Center located on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. And, Dr. Stands-OverBull has dual residences in Golden, Colorado and Pryor, Montana. Russell and his wife are highly involved
with the Native American community in Colorado and Montana, both in expanding the kingdom and working
on resource development projects with tribes, and on educational activities.
Go and love your neighbor without partiality!