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Rich Villodas, Lead Pastor of New Life Fellowship, joins hosts Kim Valenzuela and Metro District superintendent Rev. Kelvin Walker to discuss his book, The Deeply-Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus. This episode  is packed with hard questions and insightful dialogue for how our lives can be deeply formed in Christ. 10 Questions Unpacked: How do the five values hold a wholistic vision of spiritual formation, rather than a compartmentalized spiritual life and practice? How can a place of prayer help cultivate Contemplative Rhythms?  Why does Rich believe racial justice is vital to our spiritual formation?  How is our understanding of the gospel too small? How can we help and encourage monocultural churches, and especially those in predominantly monocultural contexts live out the value of racial justice?  Does failing to lean into hard conversations about race hinder our spiritual formation and specifically our ability to have an effective Missional Presence?  How can defining terms help make the hard conversations more productive? How is Rich handling a growing platform in this season?  Why is it critical to become more self-aware as one has more influence?  How can a commitment to stability and rootedness prevent us from missing opportunities to grow and be formed by the difficult and wonderful elements of life in community?  Rich Villodas and The Deeply Formed Life resources: https://www.richvillodas.com/New Life Fellowship: https://newlife.nyc/The Metro District: https://metrocma.org/Collective Leadership Podcast: https://metrocma.org/podcast/

We've never walked this way before.This motto has shaped the leadership of the Metro District for months. But the trial and transition we're moving through because of the COVID-19 pandemic puts the idea in a whole new light.As we journey through this season, how can we adapt and discover new ways to walk with God? How can challenges and changes throughout our lives help us freshly see God at work and recognize the new ways He's leading us to walk with Him?How can leaning into God during these seasons help us not only endure them, but grow through them? What new ways has God lead us personally and collectively during this difficult season?How can trials help us to be pilgrims and exiles in this world, rather than being situated here? How can it sharpen our focus on the kingdom of God and grow? How can we be purposeful to discover God in this trial rather than passively trying to get past it? Dr. Chuck Davis joins hosts Kim Valenzuela and Metro District superintendent Rev. Kelvin Walker.  He has served as a pastor, missionary, seminary professor, and itinerant speaker. He trains church leaders in understanding culture for evangelism and mission, and empowering leaders in spiritual warfare for the advance of God's kingdom.COVID-19 Resources and Information: https://metrocma.org/covid19Collective Leadership: https://metrocma.org/podcastThe Metro District: https://metrocma.org/Dr. Chuck Davis leadership: www.Globallead.orgDr. Chuck Davis pilgrimages: www.Globalpilgrimage.orgDaily 5-6 Minute Podcast - The Living Word with Chuck Davis Dr. Chuck Davis' Books: Speak Up God is Listening, Listen Up God is Speaking (2020) Jonah and Me: On Mission with God (2017) The Bold Christian (2013) El Cristiano Atrevido (2013)

As leaders and churches, we're living in challenging and uncharted territory with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. How can the church thrive in these challenging times and respond with pastoral care and service to our communities as they navigate great fear and uncertainty now and in the times ahead?How can the church prepare to respond to this unique moment? Where can we turn for reliable and important information about the medical and societal developments as they happen? How can the church continue to live out our calling and minister as we should during this pandemic? What does it look like to fellowship as churches while medical experts and government officials call for us to stay at home? How can we maintain community? How can the church operate differently to faithfully meet this moment? How are we called to serve each other and our neighbors and communities sacrificially? How can we use technological tools? What other resources do we have at our disposal? How can the youngest generations lead and serve in this moment?Hosts Kim Valenzuela and Metro District superintendent Rev. Kelvin Walker welcome Rev. Dr. Stephen Ko and his unique insights to help navigate these questions. He is not only Senior Pastor at New York Chinese Alliance Church and 3Stone Church, but also a former medical officer of the CDC and former Professor of Global Health and Pediatrics at Boston University.COVID-19 Resources and Information: https://metrocma.org/covid19Collective Leadership: https://metrocma.org/podcastThe Metro District: https://metrocma.org/3Stone Church: https://www.3stone.org/New York Chinese Alliance Church: http://www.nycac.org/

How can leaders make room for others to use their gifts, to serve, and to lead? How can they do that for women, specifically? Why is empowering women important? How does the Empower program do it effectively? What do women need in order to step into the roles they are called to play in the family, the church, and the world? What can women themselves do? What can men do to empower them?Hosts Kim Valenzuela and Kelvin Walker unpack these topics with Dr. Wanda Walborn.Dr. Wanda Walborn has served at Nyack College for over 19 years, first as Director of Spiritual Formation, and now as Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation. She also serves as the Director of the Empower program.Collective Leadership: https://metrocma.org/podcastThe Metro District: https://metrocma.org/Empower: https://www.empowerww.org/

How can leaders craft an environment where courageous change is encouraged? How can we discern what change really needs to happen? How does the makeup of our church, ministry, or organization impact our ability to evaluate where we are and where we are going?Serving as the Vice President for Development of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Tim Meier has done some significant thinking about how the concept of social architecture can help organizations create an environment where people are safe to experiment with change.

How does a church's mission, leadership, worship/environment, and governance impact it's ability to grow?Host Kim Valenzuela and District Superintendent Kelvin Walker are joined by Dr. Warren Bird and Brian McMillan to discuss 4 primary factors impacting church growth.It is healthy to fear compromise for the sake of church growth, but also critical to get past discomfort in order to discuss and evaluate the growth of the church, for the sake of the kingdom. Church growth is central to doing what Jesus commanded, making disciples.Dr. Warren Bird researches cutting-edge churches and works with their leaders to multiply their evangelistic and disciple-making impact. He is an author, and also serves as Vice President of Research and Equipping at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Brian McMillan is the Founding and Lead Pastor of Center Point Church in Long Island, New York, a church that has grown to include over 2,000 people worshiping in 4 campuses around Long Island.

In the closing message of the Metro District Conference: In the Spirit, Rev. Kelvin Walker paints a picture for the immeasurably more that the Holy Spirit desires to do in us and through us. 

Dr. David Hearn, President of C&MA in Canada brings a dynamic message of Soaring in the Spirit to Session 4 of the Metro District Conference: In the Spirit. 

Session 3 of the Metro District Conference, In the Spirit is delivered by Dr. Ingrid Davis. 

Kelvin and Kim talk with Omar Niebles, Engage Team Lead for the Metro District, and Jen Schepens, Director of Envision at the national CMA office, about lessons to learn from the missionary heritage of the CMA, how the work is changing today, and the missional life God has called all of His church to live. Jen shares from her experience with Envision around the world, developing missional leaders, and Omar speaks to opportunities locally. Why is Missional Living and Global Advance a core value of the Metro District? How is it apart of the C&MA history? What are the challenges and opportunities for this work in given the way the world is changing? What motivates us to live out this value? And what is necessary for faithful living in light of our call to live on mission with Jesus and His global church? Today's discussion offers insight to help believers and churches answer these questions and step out in faith to communicate and live out the grace and truth of Jesus in the world.

"You become what you behold." Pastor Rich Villodas of New Life Fellowship in Queens, NY delivers a powerful message on dwelling and beholding God for the Metro District Conference, In the Spirit. 

Rev. Kelvin Walker delivers the opening address to the Metro District Conference, In the Spirit. 

In this episode, Kelvin and Kim talk with Dr. Ingrid Davis, founder of Leadership Coaching International, about how leaders can care for their souls and develop as healthy leaders. Ingrid shares from her own story and identifies key indicators of an unhealthy soul. She unpacks the difference between self introspection and Holy Spirit inspection, while offering practical steps to cultivate a healthy soul. 

In this episode, Kelvin and Kim talk with Rev. Charles Galbreath, lead pastor at Clarendon Road Church in Brooklyn, NY about the role of the church in matters of social justice and mercy. Kelvin describes the Metro District's core value: Kingdom Justice and Mercy and explains why it is critical to Alliance DNA. Charles unpacks how justice is not just social or political, it is biblical. He describes his personal journey in biblical justice and mercy and his experiences leading Clarendon Road to become a church making a significant positive impact in its community.