"I saw the topics we were going to discuss here were many and good," said Audun Westad of Norway. "I think we need to be aware of all these topics to be an alive church today. I like the sermons. They are very different from what we have in Norway. It is good to experience something different and something new."

The speakers were also a great asset to the understanding, and developing of great concepts for social justice, not only in this country, but also throughout the world. They included Shane Claiborne, Rev.Adam Hamilton, Rev. Chebon Kernell, Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey, Mercy Amba Oduyoye, Dr. Harold (Hal) Recinos, Dr. Elizabeth Tapia, Rev. Janet Wolf, Rev. Michael Yoshii, Jim Winkler, and Bishop Beverly Shamana.

"I was really impressed with the speakers; all of them had a dynamic message. They had a way of making everybody understand what was being presented," said Shirley Black, local host committee member for the justice conference, and North Texas Conference Resource Center and Special Events Coordinator.

The diversity of the speakers brought a new light to overdue issues that are still taboo in some of our churches. Even though each one of them had their own different way and ideas for social justice, the core of their message came together in several occasions.

"Sometimes evangelists forget about social justice, and sometimes justice seekers forget to tell people about Jesus," said Hamilton. "People need to know about the bread of life, but they also need to know their lives matter."

"I learned so much from her [Mother Teresa of Calcutta] but especially that change starts with one person at a time," said Claiborne. "We can know all the right answers and still be mean. If we don’t have joy or love then no one is going to want what we have."

"My goal tonight is simple: to encourage you in your justice-making ministries," said the Rev. Elizabeth Tapia, an ordained elder from the Philippines. "We need to encourage one another because at times justice making can be a very lonely, unrewarding, risky endeavor."

One can truly say that the Spirit of God was certainly in that place!

For more information, please contact NTC Associate Director of Connectional Ministries Sally Vonner, 972526-5036, 800-969-8201, vonner@ntcumc.org.