Recharge focuses on urban apologetics in upcoming event

Recharge, a conference designed to strengthen African American churches, will take place on Sept. 25 at Dallas Baptist University.

Recharge connects African American churches to tools, resources, and best practices that will Educate, Equip, and Edify the body of Christ so we live the Great Commission and show Great Commandment. This year the conference will focus on Urban Apologetics.

Carlos Francis, African American Evangelism specialist, explained that many African American churches are grappling with understanding and combating new beliefs within their communities that center on self, not the gospel.

“We want to restore black dignity through the gospel and through the good news,” Francis said. “As Christians, our identity is found in Christ and in what we believe, it’s not based on our ethnicity, it’s not based on our culture, it’s not based on our color. It’s based on our Savior Jesus Christ. We want to speak this truth to this ‘woke’ generation.”

Attendees will hear from keynote speaker Dr. Eric Mason, founder and lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and founder and president of Thriving, an urban resource organization committed to developing leaders for ministry in the urban context. Mason is also the general editor for “Urban Apologetics: Restoring Black Dignity with the Gospel.”

“He is leading the charge in urban apologetics,” Francis explained. “He and some of the other authors we are having at Recharge speak to the truth that we are not worshipping a ‘white Jesus,’ but a Jesus for everyone.”

In addition to Mason, Recharge will also feature three co-authors of “Urban Apologetics,” including Jerome Gay Jr., founder and teaching pastor of Vision Church in North Carolina; Zion McGregor, founder and president of Urban Christian Writers Guild; Dr. Sarita T. Lyons, director of community life and women’s ministry at Epiphany Fellowship and a psychotherapist; and Blake Wilson, lead pastor of Crossover Bible Fellowship in Houston.

Francis encouraged churches to bring pastors and lay-leaders to Recharge.

“It’s for everybody. It affects the church and the community, and some of the fall-off that we have in our African American churches is people that are starting to listen to different beliefs, so this conference can give answers to these questions that people are asking,” he said.