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. Boulevard Church of Christ hosted the most recent one September 11th with 52 attendees from 13 churches and 2 organizations throughout the Memphis area. Our next Pray for Memphis will be:
February 3, 2026, 11:30-1:00
at Chelsea Avenue Church of Christ
2234 Chelsea Ave.
Memphis, TN 38108
On Saturday, October 25th, around 100 Christians from multiple churches across the Memphis area convened for the first Equip for Mission Workshop. The Center for Church and City Engagement in collaboration with Millington Church of Christ worked to create this special day of worship, growth, and fellowship. The event aimed to equip individuals for mission and unite the community through shared faith and strengthened bonds.
A key focus of the gathering was fostering a stronger sense of community among Memphis-area Christians. Attendees engaged in activities designed to encourage connection, collaboration, and mutual support. In breakout groups, we discussed discipleship, shepherding, homelessness, neighborhood schools, addiction recovery ministries, and more. We saw a renewed focus on personal spiritual growth and disciple-making. We spent time praying together, asking God to send out more workers for His mission in this city.
We would like to say thank you to Millington Church of Christ and other volunteers who made this day possible and we're looking forward to more in the future. We hope this gathering can be a foundation for further efforts in collaboration among churches and inspiration to join God’s mission in the city.
A heartfelt Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Vision Dinner on Saturday, November 8th! We are thrilled to have over 100 people representing various churches from across the city. The dinner provided an opportunity to reflect on the CCCE’s accomplishments over the past year. We highlighted key initiatives, including Pray for Memphis, Ministry in the City Listening Tour, and plans for a Ministry in the CIty undergrad travel course. Overall, it was a time to celebrate the impact God has made in Memphis and beyond through this ministry.
We are gearing up got NUMC 2026 and would like to invite you to join us as we dive into the overarching theme, ““Deep & Wide: Deeper Faith, Wider Reach”, is essentially a call for us, as a movement of God‘s people serving in the City, to go…
…DEEPER in our FAITH in Jesus; trusting, honoring, and obeying him in all things; resting in and relying upon Him and His power, provisions, and protection;…
…WIDER in our REACH and impact for His glory, pressing ever forward in the advancement of His Kingdom agenda among the least, the last, and the lost—making disciples of Jesus, caring for and empowering the broken, disadvantaged, marginalized, and the poor.
New this year, we will be adding a pre-conference workshop on, “Ministry Partnerships in the City”, lead by Alan Howell & Ian Nickerson with MRN.
Whether you're a seasoned urban ministry veteran, new on the turf, or just curious, there’ll be something for you. Please join us, and bring some others along.
Register and make room reservations
From October 2024 to April 2025, Harding University'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 4 non-profit organizations. These leaders represented diverse urban contexts across six major metropolitan areas:
CCE conducted a first round of six stops and six cities and compiled the data into key themes. Now, CCE is conducting a second round of three stops and three cities to gain deeper insight on the previous data and to fill in the gaps of the first round.
Our first stop in this second round of cities was Washington DC with 16 ministers from 10 different churches. Coming up next will be
Montgomery, AL- January 22. Register
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.
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 support urban churches effectively.
The Center for Church and City Engagement 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? Visit 2025 Listening Tour - Washington DC Recap
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.
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.
Steve Cloer
Director
Raye Otieno
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 Harding University, Harding 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 with 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 Harding 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 Harding 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.
Guided by the principles of Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV), Zechariah Smith is a dedicated evangelist and volunteer. He serves in leadership roles in churches of Christ, coaches at A. Maceo Walker Middle School and supports organizations such as the Mid-South Food Bank, Memphis Urban League of Young Professionals and Manhood365, a mentoring initiative he founded in 2012. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in biological engineering and a Master of Business Administration and also serves as global engineering program manager for Integra Life Sciences.
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 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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