Pastors and church leaders are notably called upon to be the preachers, teachers, activity coordinators, and counselors within their congregations. However, in today’s increasingly complex church organizations, effective church leaders must also be highly competent managers of the church’s business matters. Effective management of the church is often the difference between a successful, healthy, and growing congregation, and one stagnated with inefficiencies, poor communication, and revolving members.

This five-day Executive Leadership Program is taught on the historic campus of Howard University by the world class School of Business faculty. The program includes intensive study of: Strategic Leadership; Church Growth Business Cases; Strategic Planning; Financial Management; Technology and Social Media Strategies; and more.

The program also includes a behind-the-scenes site visitation hosted by one of the area’s fastest-growing churches, as well as a moving closing luncheon that includes a traditional School of Business pinning ceremony and certificate presentation. If you’ve never had the chance to formally attend business school, this is a wonderful opportunity to study at one of the most historic and prestigious business schools in the world.

REGISTER TODAY: $549.00

Pre-Program Work:   (Leadership Assessment, Introduction to Business Cases)

Program Outline

Monday

Evening Reception and Greetings

• Howard University Leadership & Faculty Welcome and Greetings
• Keynote Presentation on Critical Role of Today’s Black Church
• Food and fellowship

Tuesday

Program Launch: Dean HUSB, HUSB Director Executive Education, and CEO Urban Ministries Inc.

• Understanding Your Leadership Style and its Impact on Your Organization
• Team Building and Staff Performance Improvement
• Leadership in Action – Executive Simulation
• Introduction of Church Growth Case Project

Wednesday

• Repositioning Your Organization through Strategic Planning
• Financial Strategies to Position Your Church for Growth
• Executing Change: Leading Effective Process Improvement
• Site Visitation – Future is Now, Area Church – TBD

Thursday

• Strategic Integration of New Technologies, Social Media
• Managing Today’s Complex Business & Social Ethics
• Strategic Marketing and Branding of the Church
• Evening group case meetings

Friday

• Final Group Case Presentations – Feedback from School of Business Panel
  • Maggianos – Friday Afternoon Luncheon Ceremony – Guest Speaker TBD
  • Traditional School of Business Pinning Ceremony

Daniel’s Vision of Change

Daniel 7:9–14

We live in the hope that the future will be better than the past.
Daniel’s experiences taught him to trust in God in spite of the danger he faced.

Lesson 2: March 10, 2013

Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:4b–14

Even though our hopes for the future are grounded in God’s past actions,
we are human and become fearful. What should we do when fear encroaches? Daniel went to God in prayer.

Lesson 3: March 17, 2013

Gabriel’s Interpretation

Daniel 8:19–26

Hope points us toward the future. There were times when Daniel both knew and
interpreted dreams, but when he did not understand his vision, Daniel received help from Gabriel to clarify its meaning.

Lesson 4: March 24, 2013 (Palm Sunday)

The Lord’s Supper

Luke 22:14–30

Humans seek to exaggerate their own importance. Jesus says those who serve others
will eat the bread and sip the wine at the table He has set for them in heaven.

Lesson 5: March 31, 2013 (Easter)

The Lord Has Risen Indeed!

Luke 24:13–21, 28–35

Jesus opened the eyes of two followers He encountered on the road to Emmaus,
and they recognized that Jesus had risen.

Lesson 6: April 7, 2013

The Lord Appears

Luke 24:36–53

People find that promises can be hard to keep. Which promises can be relied on without
reservation? Through the Resurrection, Jesus kept His word and fulfilled the words of
prophecy about Him.

Lesson 7: April 14, 2013

The Holy Spirit Comes

Acts 2:1–13

We often face experiences that produce dramatic changes in our lives. How can positive,
lasting change be initiated? The Holy Spirit provides life-transforming power.

Lesson 8: April 21, 2013

Living with Hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11

People find themselves in situations that can be disheartening. But Paul assures us that
the promise of Christ’s return provides us with comfort and hope.

Lesson 9: April 28, 2013

Hope Comes from God’s Grace

2 Thessalonians 2:1–3, 9–17

Information about the future comes from a variety of sources. How can we know
which sources to trust? Paul warns us against the deception that can come from satanic sources.

Lesson 10: May 5, 2013

A Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3–12

Life’s trials and tribulations cause us to experience hopelessness.
Where can one go to find new hope and reassurance for a joyous future? Peter writes that a
new birth into a living hope can be found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Lesson 11: May 12, 2013

Equipped with Hope

2 Peter 1:4–14

Many people feel they are ineffective, unproductive, and unable to make the right choices
in life. Peter says that the inner strength needed to face life with new assurance and
hope comes because of our knowledge of and faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lesson 12: May 19, 2013 (Pentecost Sunday)

Hope through Stewardship

1 Peter 4:1–11

The perilous world in which we live sometimes tempts us to accept the lifestyles
and values of others in order to be successful. First Peter 4 tells us that God
will strengthen us to serve as good stewards of His manifold grace.

Lesson 13: May 26, 2013

Hope in the Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:1–15a

There have always been people who believe that what has been and what is will always be. The writer of
2 Peter urges his readers to prepare for the day of the Lord by being patient and by living holy, godly lives.

Depending on where you live, spring is a welcome reprieve from a long winter. God said, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22, NIV). So many things come to mind when we think of spring: beautiful colors, flowers, trees, rain (instead of snow), and the opportunity to shed those winter coats. In the springtime, we also celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Easter is a wonderful time for young and old alike to highlight and affirm the foundations of our faith: God’s love and grace, our redemption at Christ’s expense, the sacredness of the sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion), and our faith in His expectant return.

With that said, springtime is a great opportunity to reflect on your ministry or Sunday School class and seek ways to tap into God’s creative power for new ideas. Here are some ideas to guide you and your team:

1) Spring is a time of renewal. Whether it is your church or Sunday School class, invite those you lead or fellowship with to renew their commitment to Christ or, if they’ve fallen into a rut, to renew their commitment to serve in the ministry. If they are already too busy, have members assess ways to recruit and involve others. An internal outreach effort to move people from passive to active engagement creates value for members. All of us want to belong to something bigger than ourselves, so give members compelling reasons to rise to the occasion through personal and group introspection. One way you can do this is to hold small group brainstorming sessions or break the class into groups—no more than five people per group—and ask some questions:

a. How are we doing as a team (ministry or class) in fulfilling Jesus’ command to go and make disciples?

b. Ask the group to evaluate their own spiritual growth. What areas do they sense God leading them to do something different in their relationship with Him or with others (e.g., something different in their devotion and prayer time, new areas to serve, or increased knowledge in the Word)?

c. What ideas do they have to make your ministry or class more missioned? How can we be intentional about sharing the love of Christ with others?

d. What gifts, talents, or skills do the group members sense God developing in them, and how can they use those assets to serve the church or class?

2) Provide opportunities to put faith into action through service. Develop a project, such as a church-wide spring cleanup, or ask for volunteers to do yard cleanup for seniors in the community. Visit a veterans’ hospital, nursing home, or children’s hospital to encourage patients. Partner with a service organization to paint houses or build a playground. Such service projects are tangible and connect the Gospel’s message of love and hope.

3) There are great lessons from nature to teach children and youths about the wonders of God’s power. One idea is to bring potting soil, seeds, and small pots or Styrofoam cups to class. Have the children plant, water, and watch God give the increase. Hold a show-and-tell session, asking children and their parents for their interpretation of Creation. If you are able and weather permits, hold class outside and help children reflect on the wonder of God’s glory, as seen through nature. Be sure to decorate your church or classroom with lively colors to visually engage members. Incorporating these and other ideas breathes life into your church or class while helping members grasp key concepts of the Christian faith. As well, you will help members solidify their relationship with God in Christ and aid others to recognize God’s masterful orchestration. As Jesus said, “I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5, KJV).

URBAN FAITH: How did urban ministry become a focus of your work?

ANTIPAS HARRIS: While I was at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, I had the opportunity to experience contextual education—a required practical course. I chose to do it at a random place, Metro State Women’s Prison in Atlanta. I got there and loved it. I would say that was the beginning of my urban ministry interests. I saw it not as a shift, but an expansion of my theological interests. Through prayer and study, I came to terms with my own theological limitations. I discovered a whole new paradigm of church. It’s not some social club that we join or some building. I am convinced that the church that Jesus founded is the living organism of Christ that has the responsibility to continue the work of Christ in the world.

URBAN FAITH: The word “urban” has gone from meaning “city,” to “Black,” to anything related to hip-hop culture. You have a new definition?

ANTIPAS HARRIS: My new definition of “urban” primarily springs from the issue of gentrification. Inner city, or urban, problems were such because they were originally the result of a dense population squeezed together—more concrete than trees, more people than jobs. The point of gentrification was to reclaim the inner city, but it didn’t do anything about the people who lived there and the problems they faced. Instead, it basically ran them out. Atlanta, New York, L.A., Chicago—whatever city it is, the people displaced from those places are now in the suburbs with the same problems. So then, I proffer a definition of “urban” that refers to a suffering people in and beyond the metropolis, infiltrated and surrounded by violence, pollution, diversity, and a high concentration of poverty and need. This situation-centered definition of “urban” includes, but has mushroomed beyond, the inner city. Urban areas now include many areas just outside of the inner city and are quickly advancing to rural areas as well.

URBAN FAITH: So “urban” is less about culture and more about a particular socioeconomic condition and its related problems?

ANTIPAS HARRIS: There’s an increasing influx of other ethnicities that muddies the idea that “urban” is African American. What I’m trying to articulate at Regent is that this is not a Black studies program or a Hispanic studies program, but we cannot ignore the fact that the folks who are primarily the victims of urbanization are Blacks and Latinos.

URBAN FAITH: What does this mean for Black churches in cities?

ANTIPAS HARRIS: We need an urban church that both addresses issues that are lingering with African Americans and includes other groups, like Hispanics, that are now being racially profiled. In the same way that the Black church responded to racism in the South, with boycotts and advocating for people to vote, now the problem is broader. The paradigm has shifted a bit. It still includes issues of particular concern to African Americans, but we need to expand that to include the collective urban problems.

URBAN FAITH: What does an effective urban church look like?

ANTIPAS HARRIS: Everybody should consider the existential situations that are surrounding their church. For example, in Southern California the urban church may look different than in Bankhead in Atlanta. Churches need to think theologically about the issues that are immediately surrounding them.

UrbanFaith.com, UMI’s online magazine, originally published this article. Log on today for more great insight and inspiration.

On New Year’s Eve, many African American churches across the country will open their doors to members gathering for Watchnight services, a countdown to midnight with Scripture readings and prayer united with song and exaltation. This New Year’s Eve, however, marks a milestone in Watchnight’s history: When churches open their doors December 31, 2012 to ring in the new year, they will also open the door to the anniversary of one of the most monumentally auspicious documents in American history. January 1, 2013 marks the 150^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation’s enactment.

The Emancipation Proclamation is the executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, at the height of the American Civil War. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation’s 4 million slaves and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly all the rest freed as Union armies advanced. The Proclamation applied only to ten states that were still in rebellion against the United States in 1863. It did not cover the nearly 500,000 slaves in the slave-holding border states (Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware) that were Union states—those slaves were freed by separate state and federal actions. However, all slaves were free citizens in 1865 with the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment.

Originally called “Freedom’s Eve,” Watchnight’s roots in the African American community extend to December 31, 1862, when anxious slaves gathered together in the church—their only place of refuge—to await confirmation of President Lincoln’s Proclamation. While New Year’s Eve is anticipated today for parties and celebrations, the 19^th Century enslaved dreaded the year’s end. To them, December 31^st was feared as “Selling Day,” the time of year when slave owners sold slaves and other properties to settle debts. For many slaves, New Year’s Eve would be the last time they would ever see a family member.

To respectfully honor the Black church and its foundation in African American history, UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.) celebrates the 150^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and its impact on American society. Our coverage begins with Watchnight and culminates with Black History Month recognitions. Along the way, we will celebrate the Black church’s role in the fight for freedom in the United States.

Are you among the growing number of people joining the digital revolution by reading books using a Kindle, iPad, NOOK, or other electronic reader? If so, there’s good news for you! UMI is keeping up with the latest technology by publishing its annual Sunday School commentary, Precepts for Living®, in the leading eBook formats: Kindle (Amazon), NOOK (Barnes & Noble), and iBooks (Apple).

Precepts for Living® is one of UMI’s most-popular titles for personal Bible study and Bible teaching. You can read all about this premier Bible commentary on its official website. We’re excited to offer innovative ways to use technology and new media to help even more people access the timeless truths of God’s Word.

Here are the links to download your copy of Precepts to your electronic device:

If you’ve purchased Precepts for Living® for your eReader, be sure to leave a rating and a review at the iTunes, B&N, or Amazon store sites to tell others what you think. Also, spread the word on your favorite social networking sites, and follow Precepts® on Facebook and Twitter.

Do you need more detailed instructions for downloading Precepts®? No problem; we’re here to help! Our web editor has assembled step-by-step tutorials to make it easy to get your electronic copy of Precepts for Living® onto your device. (Now UPDATED with instructions for NOOK.) Here they are:

How to Purchase the Kindle Edition:

(For all Amazon Kindle devices, including Kindle apps for Mac, PC, iPad/iPhone, Blackberry, Android, etc. The file is in Amazon’s format.)

1. Make sure your device is connected to the Internet and WiFi is turned on.
2. Press the “Menu” button to go to the “Home” screen.
3. From your Kindle’s “Home” screen, click the “Shop in Kindle Store” button.
4. When you see the Amazon store content, enter “Precepts for Living” in the search field to find our book. Alternately, you can click this link to go directly to it: Precepts for Living® 2012-2013.
5. Once you’re on the page for the Precepts® book, press the button that reads: “Buy Now with 1-Click.” If you have more than one Kindle device, make sure that the one you want to download Precepts® to is selected in the menu below the button. (If you haven’t set up “1-Click purchasing” on your account, a screen will appear to help you through the process.)

You’re all done! Precepts for Living® will be automatically downloaded to your device, and you will be billed based on the settings you’ve made on your account.

For more information on setting up or troubleshooting a Kindle, visit this link from Amazon.

How to Purchase the iBooks Edition:

(For all Apple iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. The file is in EPUB format.)

You can purchase eBooks either directly through the iBooks app on your device or through the iTunes program (10.3 or above) on your computer. (Note that you can’t read eBooks directly in your iTunes library; a device with iBooks is still required.) If you don’t have the iBooks app, it’s a free download in the App Store. Here’s a link to it.

iBooks method:

1. Open the app and tap the “Store” button in the upper corner. The bookshelf will flip to reveal the iBookstore.
2. In the iBookstore, search for “Precepts for Living®.” Alternately, you can use this link to go directly to it: Precepts for Living® 2012-2013.
3. Tap on the cover to see more details and download a sample lesson.
4. When you’re ready to order, select “Buy.”
5. You’re all done! Precepts for Living® will be automatically downloaded to your device, and you will be billed based on your account settings.

iTunes method:

1. Launch iTunes (10.3 or later).
2. In the sidebar menu, navigate to “iTunes Store.” The store will load in your iTunes window.
3. From the iTunes Store, search for “Precepts for Living®.” Alternately, you can use this link to go directly to it: Precepts for Living® 2012-2013.
4. Select the book cover to see all the details.
5. When you’re ready to order, click “Buy Book.”
6. Precepts for Living® will be automatically downloaded to your iTunes library, and you will be billed based on your account settings.
7. Note that you can’t read eBooks directly in your iTunes library. Connect your iBooks-enabled device (iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone) to your computer, then drag-and-drop the book from your iTunes library onto the device’s library to sync it.

For more information and additional support for Apple’s iBooks, refer to the FAQ section on Apple’s site.

How to Purchase the NOOK Edition:

(For all Barnes & Noble NOOK devices, including NOOK apps for Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone, Android, etc. The file is in EPUB format.)

1. On your computer or mobile web browser, click this link to find Precepts for Living® in the Barnes & Noble NOOK store: Precepts For Living® 2012-2013.
2. When you’re ready to order, click the “Buy Now” button to purchase the book.
3. If you are not already logged into your Barnes & Noble account, you will be prompted to sign in with your username and password. (If you don’t have a B&N account, you’ll be guided through the process of setting one up.) You will be billed based on your account settings.
4. Precepts for Living® will be added to your NOOK library! This synchronizes the book across all your NOOK devices or apps, and you can download it at any time.
5. To download Precepts for Living®, navigate to the Library screen on your NOOK device or app. You may need to refresh the view to see your latest purchase. Touch the cover to open the book, and the download will begin automatically.

Once the download is complete, you’re all ready to read Precepts for Living®. The library will save your place in the book and synchronize it across any NOOK devices you use.

For more information or troubleshooting your NOOK, visit the support page from Barnes & Noble.

All trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners.

So we’re inviting you to contribute your perspective for one of our websites. If you’re a teacher, director, youth leader, volunteer, pastor, student, or anyone else who’s used UMI materials, we want to hear from you.

Do you have any creative ideas that you’ve successfully used in your classes? Any amusing or inspiring stories that might encourage other readers? What about tips or suggestions to achieve a successful Christian education program? Do you have videos or photos of your class in action? We’d love to feature them on our blogs.

This blog post on our Vacation Bible School website is a great example of the kind of creativity we like to see. Several churches and individuals shared videos from their work on past years’ VBS programs. Here’s a fun video of some students and their teacher singing and rapping to Go Green for Jesus. Are there similar videos from your church that you’d be willing to share?

Whether you’re interested in becoming a regular guest blogger or you just want to share a few words about why you like UMI materials, we look forward to hearing what you have to say in our community. Email your submissions to our web editor at epazdziora@urbanministries.com. You may also send us a link on our Facebook or Twitter pages, or use our Contact form.

(Some obligatory legalese: By submitting material, you grant UMI permission to reproduce it at the company’s discretion. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity.)

The theme verse for Fishin’ on a Mission with Jesus is: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19, KJV). In lessons based on the evangelistic journeys of the Apostle Paul, students from preschool to adult will discover biblical ways to share their faith and reel in a big catch of spiritual fish.

Sharing your faith, according to Scripture, involves not just preaching the Gospel but living for Jesus, praying, studying the truth, and having faith in Jesus yourself. Fishin’ on a Mission with Jesus teaches you how to do all these things and more, with action-packed, Bible-based lessons.

This video provides an overview of the Fishin’ on a Mission with Jesus program and shows why sharing your faith is so exciting:

Are you ready to go fishin’? Visit our VBS website at www.urbanministriesvbs.com for all the details, or explore our online store for the complete selection of program materials. Don’t miss our multimedia page, heritage focus, and blog, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates.

Also, check our UMI Workshops website to see if there are any FREE VBS training seminars scheduled near you!

Introducing UMI’s new online music store!

Featuring brand-new songs and fresh interpretations of old favorites, music from UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.) makes the perfect companion to your Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, or other worship setting. With UMI’s signature combination of biblical content and African American culture, our online music store offers worship, education, and entertainment for all ages.

Over 100 songs are now available in MP3 format for digital music players, including popular UMI albums such as Fishin’ on a Mission with Jesus, The Children’s Choir Curriculum, Jesus Truth Seekers, and more. You’ll find all your favorites from current and past UMI productions in one easy-to-use location. All songs are available as vocal tracks for sing-along and instrumental tracks for easy listening or accompaniment.

Available at www.urbanministries.com/music, or from leading online retailers including:

CDbaby  |  Google Play  |  iTunes  | Amazon MP3  |  Facebook

SPECIAL OFFER: Get a calendar autographed by artists Alan and Aaron Hicks! Quantities are limited to the first 100 copies sold of each calendar. Sorry; the autographed calendars are now sold out. Regular calendars are still in stock, so order today!

For more information about these calendars, read our press release:

Chicago, IL—October 28, 2011: Chicago artists Alan and Aaron Hicks are partnering with Urban Ministries, Inc. (UMI) to present their acclaimed religious paintings in two new inspirational 13-month wall calendars for 2012.

The twin Hicks brothers are renowned in the African-American community for their culturally relevant representations of people of color in the biblical experience. According to their website, “Their spiritual and family-oriented motifs have been exhibited throughout the country and in numerous publications such as Ebony, Jet, and Upscale magazines.”

Executed in the medium of airbrush on canvas, the Hicks twins’ paintings portray themes that include family life, religion, prayer, and Bible stories. This positive cultural representation of African Americans has drawn a devoted following.

The newly released 2012 wall calendars from UMI are the first to feature the Hicks brothers’ artwork in this format. Two titles are available: “Faith,” which features illustrations of Bible stories and scriptural themes, and “Hope,” which inspire through its images of children and family life.

As well as 13 full-color paintings, the calendars include Bible verses for each month and the birthdates of notable figures who have made African-American history. These features make each calendar an attractive purchase for the holidays and for the new year.

UMI is excited to partner with the Hicks brothers to release this combination of fine artwork and scriptural inspiration.

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Order your calendars today in UMI’s online store, or contact our customer service representatives.