This coming weekend, March 12 – 13, more than 400 young adults from nine states just might raise the roof of the Orpheum in downtown Memphis, as The Rising kicks off a weekend of worship, teaching and service.
What’s The Rising? Their Web site describes it as “a two-day multicultural experience in the urban core of Memphis designed to engage the mind, heart and soul.”
This is The Rising’s second year and director John Bryson is excited about the downtown venue as it “gets young people into the center of our city and they see Memphis in a new light.” Bryson, a teaching pastor at Fellowship Memphis, is passionate about racial reconciliation and he and his team have crafted a culturally-diverse weekend that “represents the diversity and beauty of Memphis” and is the only gathering of its kind in the country.
Joe Carson talks with a friend in downtown Memphis
If you were asked to write your eulogy, how would it read?
For Kelli and Dr. Joe Carson, members of The Life Church of Memphis, that question launched a journey that led them from a comfortable suburban life to ministry in neighborhoods that people who look like them generally avoid.
The eulogy assignment was part of a small group Bible study that led the to Carsons re-evaluate their priorities. Kelli recalls. “We asked ourselves, with our kids nearly grown, what will the rest of our lives look like? A continuation of country club, travel, suburban privileged life? Or are we willing to invest in others?” After a month of intensely-focused prayer, the couple decided to sell Joe’s successful Bartlett dental practice to free them up for full-time ministry. It sold quickly and three weeks later, The Life Church’s senior pastor, John Siebeling, asked them to lead the church’s ministry to homeless persons. Read the full story
I’ve always believed that the things that make us angry, make us laugh or make us cry say a lot about our character.
This is our youngest daughter, Sara Ann. Injustice makes her angry. Puppies, small children and her mom’s senior moments make her laugh. Poverty and homelessness make her cry.
She gave this talk — and shed these tears — during this past weekend’s a youth retreat at Germantown United Methodist Church.
UMCOR honors cultural differences. We deliver aid to people without regard to race, religion, politics, or gender. We seek input from local communities in identifying needs.
This coming weekend, March 12 – 13, more than 400 young adults from nine states just might raise the roof of the Orpheum in downtown Memphis, as The Rising kicks off a weekend of worship, teaching and service. 
