Pray for Memphis is an inspiring demonstration of unity and faith. It highlights the power of prayer in Memphis. This gathering brings diverse individuals together from all parts of the city in prayer. We have had people from Germantown to Downtown, Frayser to Whitehaven, all gathering with the common cause of joining God’s work in the city.
Join us November 14, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oliver Creek Church of Christ for the 2nd Annual Equip for Mission Workshop, a free citywide gathering designed to equip and inspire Christians to serve Memphis through evangelism, compassion, and community engagement.
Featuring keynote speaker Bryan C. Jones, special guest Dr. Josh Marcum, and worship leader Terry Davis, the day will offer practical training, meaningful connections, and fresh encouragement for ministry.
Choose from breakout sessions on evangelism, mentoring, recovery, compassion ministry, neighborhood schools, and our new Spanish-language track. You'll leave with actionable ideas and resources to help your church make a lasting impact.
Deep & Wide: Deeper in Faith, Wider in Reach
Make plans to join us in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, February 18-20, 2027, for the 2027 National Urban Ministry Conference at South Walker Church of Christ.
This national gathering will bring together church leaders, ministry leaders, students, and community servants for a weekend of inspiring worship, practical ministry training, meaningful fellowship, and encouragement for serving urban communities.
Registration is now open! Secure your spot today and join others from across the nation as we learn, connect, and strengthen our commitment to sharing Christ's love in our cities.
Additional details on speakers and workshops will be announced in the coming months.
Register today and be part of this inspiring weekend of ministry and impact!
From October 2024 to April 2025, 91ÆÞÓÑ's Center for Church and City Engagement (CCE) conducted a series of listening sessions in collaboration with the In Trust Center for Theological Schools. These sessions aimed to gain insights into the urban ministry landscape and inform the CCE's support for urban churches.
The listening sessions involved a total of 134 leaders from 65 churches and four non-profit organizations. These leaders represented diverse urban contexts across six major metropolitan areas:
The CCE conducted a first round of six stops and six cities and compiled the data into key themes. The CCE then conducted a second round of three stops in three cities to gain deeper insight into the previous data and to fill in the gaps of the first round. These three stops were Washington, D.C., Montgomery, Alabama, and New York, New York.
The goal of these listening sessions was to engage in thoughtful dialogue to glean insights that would inform and strengthen the CCE's support for urban churches and communities. Through these listening sessions, we were able to learn the unique challenges and opportunities facing urban churches.
The CCE is now in the process of analyzing the collected data to identify common themes and critical needs. This analysis will inform the development of resources tailored to effectively support urban churches.
The CCE plans to share the results of the listening sessions and the developed resources in the coming year. This will provide valuable insights and practical tools for churches and organizations engaged in urban ministry.
Want to know what it is like to spend a day on the Listening Tour? Watch our .
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new Substack publication, "Church and City", a source of information and inspiration for city ministers, by city ministers. This free resource comes alongside ministers whose congregations stand at the intersection of cultures, economies, languages and nationalities in some of the world’s most populated neighborhoods. We invite you to join the Church and City community and receive weekly inspiration and practical resources for your ministry. Connect with other city ministers, share your own experiences and discover new ways to serve your community.
We will offer apprenticeships and internships in partnership with city churches and other ministries.
We are currently partnering with Christ Community Health Services to provide chaplaincy internships for our students. The internship focuses on pastoral care, multicultural ministry, engaging in intentional spiritual conversations, and grant writing. CCHS serves 60,000 people each year in underserved communities in Memphis, and the internship is made possible by a grant from the Butterfield Memorial Foundation.
The Center for Church and City Engagement is excited to offer a new undergrad course within the College of Bible and Ministry: BMIN 3025, "Ministry in the City." This course is a 10-day immersive travel course led by Dr. Steve Cloer, taking place in Memphis during the Intersession semester in May. Students will stay in midtown Memphis and explore urban challenges including race, poverty, immigration, food insecurity, education inequity and homelessness. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to visit churches and ministries working in these spaces.
Steve Cloer
Director
Waundricka Dennis
Administrative Assistant
BT Irwin
Resource Developer
Bob Turner is the senior minister for White Station Church of Christ-Iglesia de Cristo in Memphis, Tennessee. He holds degrees from 91ÆÞÓÑ, 91ÆÞÓÑ School of Theology and the University of Illinois. He is currently enrolled at Fuller Theological Seminary. In his free time, he enjoys visiting Memphis’s great parks, baking pizza, tackling challenging crossword puzzles and searching for the best cup of coffee. He and his wife, Andrea, have two daughters, Julia and Kathryn.
Che’ Smith is a native of Los Angeles, California. He is a U.S. military veteran, health care professional and community leader in the Memphis metropolitan area, where he serves as an associate minister at Quince Church of Christ. He holds degrees in science and health care administration and leadership. He and his wife have five adult children. Smith’s favorite Scripture is Psalm 23:6 — “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
David Mohundro serves as a deacon at Oliver Creek Church of Christ, where he works closely with the children’s ministry. He also assists with the racial reconciliation ministry, the 30s and 40s family ministry and the church website. He is a software architect and technical leader at Clear Function in the Memphis, Tennessee area, where he has worked for nine years guiding and consulting clients through various technical issues. He has more than 20 years of experience in the software industry.
Debbie White is a graduate of Lipscomb University and holds an MBA from the University of Memphis. She has served on advisory boards for Hope Works and 91ÆÞÓÑ School of Theology and is a member of the Park Avenue Church of Christ, and helps lead the women's ministry.
Jim Hinkle is the executive minister at the Sycamore View Church of Christ. He spent 25 years in youth ministry in Tennessee and Texas. He and his family have lived in Memphis, Tennessee, since 2005 and have called the Binghampton neighborhood home since 2011.
Matthew Mitchell, a lifelong Memphian, graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and from 91ÆÞÓÑ School of Theology in 2024 with a Master of Divinity. He currently serves as the pulpit minister at Woodland Hills Church of Christ, having held multiple ministry positions there since 2013.
Russell Joy is a retired middle school principal and human resource supervisor for Legacy Shelby County Schools. Currently, he volunteers with Literacy Mid-South, teaching ESL students. He now serves as an elder at Holmes Road Church of Christ.
Jim Harbin Jr. is the senior minister of Raleigh Community Church of Christ and president of the National Urban Ministry Association. He also serves as the project director of Becoming ONE, a nationally recognized marriage ministry. As senior minister at Raleigh Community Church of Christ, he has helped create a variety of partnerships and collaborations, enabling the church to serve as a hub for ministry to the communities of Raleigh, Frayser, North Memphis and parts of Bartlett in Tennessee.
Judy Conway was born and raised in the deep delta of Mississippi, but Memphis has become her home. She is a firm believer in Jesus Christ and the importance of community outreach. Conway has served as the ambassador for the Tillman Station Police Department and a volunteer for Hope Works. She grows a community garden and helps improve the Mitchell Heights community through involvement in various projects and initiatives. She is a member of the North Eastside Church of Christ.
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