Question: What is Christian Praying? The Hows, Whats, and Whys of This Mysterious ActivityAnswer: Amos Yong, Ph.D.Do you ever wonder what we are doing when we pray, particularly in light of Jesus’ and early Christians praying?The biblical accounts provide templates for praying on the one hand but also, if we are open to a fresh reconsideration, raise many questions about this fundamental human activity on the other. Come to revisit and dialogue about prayer — Jesus’, the early disciples’, and our own — whether you consider yourself a “prayer warrior” or someone who doesn’t pray.About our Speaker: Amos Yong is Professor of Theology and Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. His graduate education includes degrees in theology, history, and religious studies from Western Evangelical Seminary (now Portland Seminary) and Portland State University, both in Portland, Oregon, and Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, and an undergraduate degree from Bethany University of the Assemblies of God. Licensed as a minister with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, he has also authored or edited dozens of scholarly volumes. He and his wife, Alma, have three children and six grandchildren. Amos and Alma reside in Southern California.

We dive deep into discussions about faith, Christianity, and the historical context of the Bible. In this episode, we explore the fascinating topic of apostolic prayer in the Book of Acts with our guest, Amos Yong. Amos shares insightful observations about the patterns and themes of prayer in the apostolic narrative, shedding light on the various contexts, postures, practices, and contents of prayers performed by the apostles. We dissect the significance of prayer in advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reflecting on its role in enabling disciples to bear witness to the teachings of Jesus. Join us as we delve into the nuances of apostolic prayer and uncover its profound implications for our understanding and practice of prayer today. Tune in as we navigate through intriguing discussion points and unravel the complexities of prayer in the apostolic era.Question: What is Christian Praying? The Hows, Whats, and Whys of This Mysterious ActivityAnswer: Amos Yong, Ph.D.Do you ever wonder what we are doing when we pray, particularly in light of Jesus’ and early Christians praying?The biblical accounts provide templates for praying on the one hand but also, if we are open to a fresh reconsideration, raise many questions about this fundamental human activity on the other. Come to revisit and dialogue about prayer — Jesus’, the early disciples’, and our own — whether you consider yourself a “prayer warrior” or someone who doesn’t pray.About our Speaker: Amos Yong is Professor of Theology and Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. His graduate education includes degrees in theology, history, and religious studies from Western Evangelical Seminary (now Portland Seminary) and Portland State University, both in Portland, Oregon, and Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, and an undergraduate degree from Bethany University of the Assemblies of God. Licensed as a minister with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, he has also authored or edited dozens of scholarly volumes. He and his wife, Alma, have three children and six grandchildren. Amos and Alma reside in Southern California.

In this electrifying session, Dr. Amos Yong illuminated Jesus' prayer life, planting seeds of wisdom on the importance of nurturing a habit of heartfelt prayer. He adeptly unpacked the beginnings of Jesus' ministry and transported us to those quiet places where Jesus sought solace and strength through prayer. Tony Bolos introduced the concept of immersive learning, revealing how a semester's worth of insight can be condensed into a single enriching evening. Together, they've challenged us to delve deep into the essence of the Lord's Prayer and the compelling portrayal of God as a father, sparking a profound conversation on the role of prayer in our personal lives and communities. Tune in, reflect, and join the Upper House as we explore the confluence of spirituality, ethics, and culture. Don't miss this transformative journey – a moment of discovery that promises to reshape your perspective.Question: What is Christian Praying? The Hows, Whats, and Whys of This Mysterious ActivityAnswer: Amos Yong, Ph.D.Do you ever wonder what we are doing when we pray, particularly in light of Jesus’ and early Christians praying?The biblical accounts provide templates for praying on the one hand but also, if we are open to a fresh reconsideration, raise many questions about this fundamental human activity on the other. Come to revisit and dialogue about prayer — Jesus’, the early disciples’, and our own — whether you consider yourself a “prayer warrior” or someone who doesn’t pray.About our Speaker: Amos Yong is Professor of Theology and Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. His graduate education includes degrees in theology, history, and religious studies from Western Evangelical Seminary (now Portland Seminary) and Portland State University, both in Portland, Oregon, and Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, and an undergraduate degree from Bethany University of the Assemblies of God. Licensed as a minister with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, he has also authored or edited dozens of scholarly volumes. He and his wife, Alma, have three children and six grandchildren. Amos and Alma reside in Southern California.

By 2030, as many as 100,000 church buildings and billions of dollars of church-owned property are expected to be sold or repurposed throughout the U.S. — representing the loss of gathering places and even social services in communities nationwide. According to Mark Elsdon, author and editor of Gone for Good: Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition (Eerdmans, 2024), the transfer of church property is both a critical issue and an opportunity for church and community leaders seeking to serve the common good. How do we face the issues and opportunities head-on and mission-minded?This event was a book launch and conversation at Upper House with Mark Elsdon, Executive Director of Pres House and Co-Founder and Lead Builder of Rooted Good, who will address how church properties have been creatively redeployed to serve the common good. Also joining were other book contributors:Kurt Paulsen (appearing in person), professor of urban planning in the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture at UW-MadisonJoseph Daniels, Jr. (live via Zoom), lead pastor of the Emory Fellowship in Washington D.C. Coté Soerens (live via Zoom), social innovator at the Center for Transformative Neighborhoods at Trinity Christian College You might be especially interested in this event if you are a Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor, Facilities Manager for a church, CFO/Treasurer, or city planning staff.----This event was recorded live at Upper House on January 17, 2024. ----View this recorded event on YouTube = https://youtu.be/Q7kv_JRRwK4

It would be salutary for the church and its leadership to remain silent for a season until it learns how to engage in politics and even talk about politics in ways that are non-Nietzschean. James Davison Hunter (quoted above) coined the term “culture wars.” A sociologist, he is an astute observer of culture and a writer of many books reflecting on the times we live in. What, precisely, is he driving at when he claims it would be beneficial for the church and its leaders to “remain silent for a season,” or learn to engage with politics in a non-Nietzschean manner? In brief, he’s inviting the church and its leaders to engage in ways that disarm resentment and hostility. Sadly, when the church or Christians at large talk politics, the posture all too often devolves to one of hostility or indignation; the effect is to undermine the church’s invitational role, its sacred call to introduce people to Jesus, son of the Living God.But, when so much seems at stake, is the church to remain silent on things political? If it is silent, is the church guilty of a type of complicity? These questions are also pressing.This timely discussion with Ron Sanders, a teacher, author, and researcher who has studied the intersection of religion and public policy—especially the relationship between the Christian tradition and the Democratic tradition in America. Together we will talk about the role of the church in democratic politics. We will consider the architecture for a political theology that isn’t confined to democracy. And we will talk about why democracy needs Christians to be faithful to Jesus in order for its citizens to flourish.Ron addressed the political issues of our day in relationship to the church from a non-partisan viewpoint. Upper House hosted this event in partnership with Badger Cru and Blackhawk CAM.----This event was recorded on October 24, 2023.----About our speaker:Ron Sanders is an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary. His field of research is the intersection of religion and public policy—especially the relationship between the Christian Tradition and the Democratic Tradition in America. He is the author of After the Election: Prophetic Politics in a Post-Secular Age and a chapter in Justice and the Way of Jesus. He has also served on the staff of Cru for 32 years. He is currently a religious advisor to the football team at Stanford University and the Coordinator for Moral and Spiritual Formation for Cru.Ron is married to Bonnie and has two adult children, Zac and Sarah. He graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. in Mathematics, Talbot School of Theology with an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, and Fuller Theological Seminary with a Ph.D. in Theology with an emphasis in Christian Ethics. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ron and his family began to to play hacky-sack during quarantine, and when his family is all together in one place, they can be found trying to recruit people for their “circle.” He wants to be an amateur chef and plays competitive pickleball in his free time.

This gathering was cohosted with the Awaken Dane project, a Lilly Endowment, Inc., funded initiative that helps participants from local churches listen deeply for and awaken to where the Spirit of God is at work in their local communities so they can join in that holy work. During our evening together, we will address pressing questions: How might the Church help the university advance the common good, or more effectively implement the Wisconsin Idea? What can the Church learn from the University to better serve its communities?A long-standing critique of colleges and universities is that they are elitist institutions detached from the interests of everyday citizens. In fact, the 19th-century term “ivory tower” disparages faculty who happily pursued their favorite subjects without giving any thought to the greater public, whose taxes fund public institutions. UW President Charles Van Hise directly addressed such public concerns by articulating the Wisconsin Idea (1904) — that university research should be applied to solve problems and improve health, quality of life, the environment, and agriculture for all citizens of the state of Wisconsin — thus drawing a clear connection between the work of the university and the common good.While still strongly associated with the Wisconsin Idea, many citizens perceive the UW as a detached, inaccessible institution whose programs are so specialized and obscure they bear little relation to most people’s felt needs and realities. In fact, universities across the country are grappling with loss of public trust in higher education and questions about their work having public relevance. These concerns are fueling a national and international movement to reimagine what it means for universities to meaningfully collaborate with communities to advance the common good. Potential collaborators in this movement? The Church and its leaders, who serve the spiritual, physical, and social needs of their communities. Through the platform of the Wisconsin Idea, the UW and the Church might find ways to converse and advance the common good in our community. Joining us to discuss the challenges and opportunities of these distinct institutions working together is David Weerts, who brings his scholarship on the Wisconsin Idea and insights from his work in the Office of Public Engagement at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, to our dinner.----This event was recorded on November 9, 2023.----About our speaker:David J. Weerts, Ph.D., is a professor of higher education and faculty director in the Office for Public Engagement at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Over the past 25 years, his scholarship and teaching have focused on how colleges and universities collaborate with external partners to serve the public good. He has received awards for his research from the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good. Professor Weerts serves as vice chair of the board at Anselm House, a Christian Study Center that exists to help students and faculty at the University of Minnesota connect faith and knowledge with all of life. He holds a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A fundamental difference between the secular and Christian imagination relates to how people view the world. For many, it is assumed that only those things we can physically see and touch are what exist. Scripture teaches, however, that there are two realities that exist alongside each other: one visible and one invisible. Moreover, Christians have long believed that these seen and unseen realities uniquely overlap, first and foremost in Jesus Christ, and consequently in His Church. We might call this way of viewing the world “the sacramental imagination.” It speaks to our profound thirst for the transcendent and is central to how the Bible invites us to see Jesus, the Church, and all creation. Come and explore with us, from a Roman Catholic and Anglican perspective, the biblical roots of these themes, their influence on popular culture, and how they practically shape our faith.PresentationsOur presenters, Father Scott Cunningham of Christ Church Madison (Anglican) and Bishop Donald J. Hying of the Catholic Diocese of Madison, each offered a presentation followed by a time of Q&A.A Portal To Eternity | Father Scott Cunningham, Christ Church MadisonOur modern world is obsessed with stories about portals to another world, from the wardrobe in Narnia to Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross. We are enthralled with the enduring idea that there are worlds that overlap, with openings between them. Where do these stories—and these longings—come from? More importantly, do these fantasies have any correlation to our reality? In addressing these questions, Fr. Scott will lead us to see that the story of Scripture is not only more audacious than modern fiction, but it is also a life-changing reality.The Word Made Flesh: Jesus Christ as the Source of a Sacramental Vision | Bishop Donald J. Hying, Catholic Diocese of MadisonBecause God embraced our humanity in Jesus Christ, stepping into time and space, the entire material world has taken on a new meaning and significance. All of created reality, including our own human identity, becomes an incarnation of the spiritual and invisible. Through this sacramental experience, God reveals Himself to us.----This event was recorded on December 3, 2023.----About our Speakers:Fr. Scott Cunningham hails from Tennessee and Texas, where he was raised in a family of faith and ministry. He moved to Chicago to study music, theology, and literature at Wheaton College and later earned an M.A. in Biblical Exegesis. Fr. Scott has served in the Anglican communion for almost two decades. For two years he trained for pastoral ministry in churches in Sheffield, England, before returning to serve in the Diocese of the Upper Midwest in the Anglican Church in North America. He was ordained as a Deacon in 2017 and as a priest in 2018. Now Fr. Scott pastors at Christ Church Madison, an Anglican church he and his wife Marissa helped plant in 2018. When Fr. Scott is not serving the Church, you can find him hanging out with his four sons, reading a good book, or playing in bars with his local folk band, the Continental Congress.Bishop Donald J. Hying was born in West Allis, Wisconsin. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and his master’s degree from St. Francis Seminary, Bishop Hying was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. His priestly assignments include parishes in Menomonee Falls, the Dominican Republic, and Milwaukee; he also served as Dean of Formation and rector at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr. Donald Hying the Titular Bishop of Regiae and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In 2014, His Holiness, Pope Francis, appointed Bishop Hying as the Fourth Bishop of Gary (Indiana); five years later, His Holiness, Pope...

Please view the video recording of this event on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/rhvILa9T-eI The church is often tested in its capacity to serve all of God’s people well, as mandated in Scripture. When it comes to serving people with disabilities, the church at times pays close attention to those who persuasively and loudly raise their voices in self-advocacy. At other times, though, the church might fail to hear the voices of those whose self-advocacy is limited. This raises questions about how the church pays attention to—and creates space for—the diverse people it is mandated to serve, including those whose challenges and disabilities are not physically obvious.Pastor Ashley McNary from Heartland Church in Sun Prairie will converse with local advocate and Christ follower Annie Heathcote, recently crowned Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin. Together they will discuss the ways Annie negotiates the world on wheels, self-advocates, and works to educate others. Then they will discuss the ways the church is called—and might better serve—all God’s people, intentionally and practically. ---This event was recorded on August 10, 2023. ---About our Speakers:Annie Heathcote is a Dane County resident recently crowned Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin 2023. A frequent event speaker and participant on disability panels, Annie has also been interviewed for radio, podcasts, newspapers, social media, and television. Growing up with a form of Muscular Dystrophy, she brings deep perspective of what it takes to negotiate a world of obstacles and educate people whose knowledge of disability is limited. Her faith in God informs her view of herself and infuses her with contagious hope and determination. God has shown her that disability does not mean inability. Annie graduated from Madison College with high honors and two Associate Degrees, one in Graphic Design & Illustration and the other in Web & Digital Media Design. Her mission is to learn, grow, advocate, and collaborate with the disability community and others—to raise awareness and advance accessibility and inclusion. In her free time, Annie enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, making art, singing at church, and competing as an elite athlete in an adaptive sport called Power Soccer.Ashley McNary is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Heartland Church in Sun Prairie. She has advocated for kids with disabilities in several ways, including starting the Night to Remember Dance and the Wonderfully Made ministry at Heartland Church, designed for kids with disabilities/diverse needs. She helps lead efforts to make the church accessible to kids affected by intellectual or developmental disabilities, behavioral or emotional needs, sensory needs, limited vision or hearing, or who are blind or deaf.

Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen preached the opening sermon for the 2023 Midwest Gospel Preaching Summit. About our Speaker:Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen is the pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church, one of Madison’s oldest and most storied African American churches; he is also president of the African American Council of Churches in Madison (AACCM). He has a heart and passion for students at UW-Madison and looks forward to helping students enter the academic year with their hearts and minds set on God. View this talk on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3-KXGkYOSQ8

Three nationally known preachers with a passion for training pastors and ministers will headline our second Midwest Gospel Preaching Summit, focusing on the theme Preaching that Changes Lives (Romans 10:9-17). Mt Zion Baptist Church and Upper House in Madison, Wisconsin, are cohosts of this transformative Summit for pastors and ministers committed to advancing the spiritual growth of their congregants and the church as a whole.Romans 10:9-17, the Scriptural foundation of this Summit, emphasizes the importance of hearing and responding to God’s Word, especially the crucial role the preacher plays in bringing people to faith through sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Summit’s speakers will delve into this passage’s nuances and share ways their fellow pastors can convincingly communicate the gospel message and inspire their listeners to take action in response.Our speakers—the Rev. Dr. Danielle L. Brown, the Rev. Dr. Jerry M. Carter, Jr., and the Rev. Dr. William Curtis—have deep insight into how to preach the transformative Word of God and engage their listeners. These speakers will, through their own preaching and presentation at the Summit, equip attendees to preach with greater confidence, fearlessly, and with conviction. We pray that everyone who attends will personally celebrate this statement, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15b, NKJV)___This event was recorded on October 11, 2023. ___About our Speaker: Rev. Dr. Danielle L. Brown is the 10th Senior Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, NJ, the first woman to hold this position since the church’s founding in 1908. An increasingly sought-after preacher and workshop leader with the ability to communicate across generations, Dr. Brown has had the opportunity to share the Gospel throughout this country and in South Africa. She holds a Master of Education and Bachelor of Science Degrees from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, and both a Master of Divinity Degree and Master of Arts Degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey. She earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Palmer Theological Seminary in St. David’s Pennsylvania, where she studied Leadership and Church Renewal. She has a passion for mentoring and assisting in the development of faith and community leaders and is a site supervisor in the Princeton Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and Pillar College Field Education Programs, has taught on the adjunct faculty of New York Theological Seminary, and served two terms on the Board of Trustees of New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Through the years, Dr. Brown has been the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions for her work in the church and community. In 2022, she was inducted into the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.---Watch this event on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/JLbqHOcjLCk