Today marked the last day of the Awaken Conference. I got a chance to hook up with Eric Bryant and Octavio Martinez for breakfast at Panera. After our breakfast gathering, it was on to our panel session. I enjoyed our session. I was a bit nervous when I first went on stage. I’m used to getting up in front of people when I’m prepared. It was great to be confronted with the spontaneity of Q&A. Everyone on the panel did a great job. We got great feedback, as well.
I don’t remember everything we discussed, but here was a few:
1. Live out your story. We all have a story that plays a part in God’s story. Our community in Silver Spring are filled with Americans and first and second generation migrants. I’m all of the above. God has interwoven my story with that of the community.
2. We all have accents. God uses those accents in a unique way to accomplish His purposes.
3. The people in our communities speak many languages. We can decide to speak one language or learn the languages of others to connect with them. It is going to require risk. The lower the risk, the lower the rate of return. The higher the risk, the higher the rate of return.
4. Here’s something I wanted to say, but ran out of time. We have to die so that Christ can live. However, we must also die so that others around us can live.
[...] Jumaine posted on some of the thoughts that came out of the panel on the “African American story” panel [...]