Last week several of us connected to Winebrenner Seminary attended the Ascent Summit in Falls Church, Virginia. For the past few years Winebrenner has been an active participant in the life of the Ascent Movement, including participating with the planning council for the group. I’ve asked those who attended last week’s gathering to share some reflections about the event as well as on the value of collaborating with Ascent.
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The mission statement for the inaugural Ascent Conference was “to create a thriving Collaborative Connection for the Church to live out the Great Commission in Today’s Context.” It absolutely lived up to that for me.
As North America drifts more and more post-Christian and becomes more culturally diverse, the urgency to be on mission in our own backyard as well as overseas has never been greater. A forum for practical tools and ideas to facilitate this has never been more welcome. Thank you Ascent! I was challenged and encouraged in every setting, from keynote speakers to breakout sessions to hallway conversations. The quantity and variety of breakouts was amazing and I only wish I could have had my whole congregation there to gather content from each one. As it was, I found quite a few sessions that addressed my missional interests or a need in my context and ultimately was not disappointed by the ones I chose.
I’m confident that the information I received and the connections I made with others who are passionate about the mission will bear much fruit in the coming days and years. The Ascent Conference proves that God is working to draw churches back to the Missio Dei in every way and I’m grateful to be a part of it.
- John DeVincent, Pastor, Markleysburg Union Church, Winebrenner Doctor of Ministry student
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My entry point into the Ascent Movement came via an invitation to join the Junia Network. “The Junia Network was formed to cultivate a faithful model of female leadership that reflects the image of God through mutuality, rest, and Spirit-led courage. We are building a community where women are equipped and encouraged to lead in full expression of their calling.” It has been a positive experience to be engaged with a group of women who are seeking to live out their callings while also developing and supporting one another.
The Summit affirmed the commitment of the Ascent Movement to mutuality of women and men in church leadership, but also to a vision of the Kingdom that is both focused on the local church and the global expression of the Gospel. Speakers and workshop leaders were drawn across a broad spectrum, providing rich opportunities to engage beyond denominations and outside of conversations bracketed by academia or local church concerns.
The gift of this space and time allowed for engaging an energized and hope-filled vision of the church, both now and in the future. It is rare to attend a conference and come away equipped with new ideas, warmed by the honest and heartfelt friendship of others, and encouraged for the future of the church. Ascent and the Junia Network have provided such a space, which enriches my ability to follow my call and support Winebrenner’s mission to equip leaders for service in God’s Kingdom.
- Kathryn Helleman, Associate Professor, Christian Thought & Director of Doctor of Ministry, Winebrenner Seminary
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Over the past 20 years, I’ve followed Winebrenner’s journey in making theological education accessible and applicable for those pursuing ministry. In recent years, their innovation in delivery and offerings has made them a unique institution in the wider church landscape. What I know of Winebrenner’s ministry DNA, it appears to fit well with the goal and direction of Ascent, which is poised to make it’s own impact on the wider church.
Our network is in the final stages of bringing a partner into Ascent, largely due to the overarching emphasis on encouraging and equipping churches to reach the unreached and spiritually disaffected in North America. With its appeal to the Cape Town Commitment, the global evangelical zeal for mission has created a beautiful mix of partners, including those from Wesleyan, Baptist, Anabaptist, and other streams.
This kind of hopeful and joyful witness aligns well with our own Network’s concern for learning from the global church and ensuring that our churches are on mission at all times and to all people. The equipping and encouragement taking place at the Ascent gatherings also remind me of the Winebrenner classrooms I sat in two decades ago – as many streams came together to wrestle with ideas, spur one another on, and sharpen each of us. And I know this continues to be a high value for the school.
As a founding member of a new network that has only been around for a decade, I know that challenging times arise and that there are often bugs to work out. But there is something sweet in the air with Ascent, where I believe God is calling together those who have been sifted and gifted to reach the unreached in North America.
In a time of dislocation and partisanship, it is a much-needed focus on making the Main Thing the main thing – that is, the proclamation of the Gospel: Jesus is Lord and He calls us to come and follow Him.
– Tyler Hartford, Director of Engagement, Evana Network; Winebrenner graduate
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