NASHVILLE, Tenn. August 14, 2023 — The Upper Room, in partnership with Africa Upper Room Ministries (AURM), will host RESILIENCE | Practicing Compassion in a World of Conflict, a two-day online conference open to all who seek to live compassionately in today’s polarized society. The virtual conference will take place on September 29-30, 2023.
At RESILIENCE, voices from across the globe will contribute to the conversation about what it means to practice the compassion modeled by Jesus, covering a wide range of perspectives and practices. Speakers from Ukraine, South Africa, Namibia, Mexico, and the United States will share their insights and personal stories from the virtual stage. Included in the lineup are Bishop Purity Malinga, Nadiyka Gerbish, Ray Buckley, Christopher Carter, Rubén Ortiz, Jane Herring, Jerry Haas, Alma Cota de Yánez, Juliet Windvogel, and Piula Ala'ilima. The worship sessions, led by Rev. Dr. Lydia Muñoz and Zodwa Mookeng, will invite participants to experience culturally diverse worship and build resilience in community through creative and imaginative spiritual practices.
In a world marked by confrontation and division, profound ideological and theological disagreements leave many individuals grappling with feelings of isolation and longing for new ways of relating to their neighbors. Practices of compassion open the door for resilient relationships—the kind of relationships that weather conflict with strength. Sharon Conley Cottingham, Director of Formational Learning at The Upper Room and one of the key organizers of the RESILIENCE conference, writes, “Extending rigorous compassion personally is challenging, even more so politically and globally. But what better way to live like Jesus in our polarized and violent world? Jesus consistently modeled another way—not the way of the left or the way of the right, but a third way. A way that recognizes and calls out the imago dei in all of us.”
The RESILIENCE conference is a collaborative effort between The Upper Room and Africa Upper Room Ministries, inviting both lay and clergy into time for storytelling, personal reflection, open dialogue, guided spiritual practices, and worship. By engaging in these experiences, participants will be equipped with tools and practices for cultivating compassionate relationships in their daily lives.
RESILIENCE | Practicing Compassion in a World of Conflict is open for general admission at a fee of $125. All conference sessions will be recorded and made available to registrants following the event. To learn more about the event schedule, speakers, CEUs, and scholarship opportunities, please visit UpperRoom.org/resilience.
This event is made possible by donors to The Upper Room’s Crisis Impact Fund.
The Upper Room is a global ministry dedicated to supporting the spiritual formation of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully. From its beginnings as a daily devotional guide, The Upper Room has grown to include publications, programs, prayer support, and other resources to help believers of all ages and denominations move to a deeper level of faith and service. The Upper Room is a part of Discipleship Ministries. Visit UpperRoom.org to learn more.
Africa Upper Room Ministries (AURM) is a non-profit organization, publisher, and retailer of Christian books and materials located in South Africa, with a mission to offer every soul the opportunity to grow holistically through spending time with God every day. Visit aurm.co.za to learn more.
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