Center for Church and City Engagement -HST

08/17/2026

The next Pray for Memphis gathering is next week!

Join us on August 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as we come together to pray for our city. A special thank you to Southside Church of Christ for hosting this month's gathering.

Pray for Memphis is a citywide prayer initiative that brings church leaders together for encouragement, fellowship, a shared meal, and prayer. Each month, we gather in a different part of Memphis, hosted by a local church, to seek God's heart for our community and pray for His will to be done throughout our city.

We look forward to standing united in faith as we pray for Memphis together.
Register today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-9IN6Naor8sCLidtbf91-0_93XuKmg8ag2K7AylacShY40Q/viewform

07/29/2026

The Center for Church and City Engagement has officially completed its inaugural Ministry in the City class. Designed as an “urban HUT” experience, this unique course immersed 11 undergraduate students in an urban setting during a 10-day trip to Memphis this past Intersession.

Throughout their time in the city, the students engaged with local urban churches, learned about the inner workings of nonprofit ministries, and met directly with city and state leaders. They paired these hands-on experiences with readings on Christian Community Development to deepen their understanding of how to effectively serve.

We are thrilled to announce that this incredible experience is just the beginning. The CCE recently received a $60,000 grant from NetVUE’s Fostering Leadership for Communities of Faith program. This generous grant will ensure the Ministry in the City class continues for the next two years, while also helping to fund a special Church and City track at the upcoming Inspire Lectureship and a Theology and the City event this spring.

We are incredibly proud of this group of students for exploring new ways to minister to the community, and we look forward to the future of this growing program.

07/20/2026

The next Pray for Memphis will be coming up soon! August 27, 11:30-1:00. We are excited to have Southside Church of Christ host the event. This prayer initiative is a call to bring church leaders together for encouragement, food, and prayer. We will gather in one part of the city, hosted by a local church, to share food together and pray for God’s will to be done in the city of Memphis.
Register today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-9IN6Naor8sCLidtbf91-0_93XuKmg8ag2K7AylacShY40Q/viewform?usp=header

06/03/2026

Many Christian programs that address the "wicked problems" of the city may focus on biblical "application"; what our neighbors need to hear first is gospel. https://open.substack.com/pub/centerforchurchandcity/p/our-neighbors-need-not-apply?r=29ba28&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

06/01/2026

Harding University’s Ministry in the City class wrapped up their 10-day Memphis on May 22. While in Memphis, they visited urban churches, partnered with ministry organizations, and met with city and state leaders to learn how faith meets real needs. They explored neighborhoods, studied Christian Community Development, and served the community with hands-on compassion and purpose. Along the way, students took time for thoughtful reflection on what it looks like to embody the gospel in urban contexts right now. Our prayer is that this Memphis experience will keep shaping their faith, leadership, and commitment to serve with compassion and courage.

05/22/2026

Come join this special track at Harding's Inspire Lectureship

2026 Inspire Lectureship Track Highlight: Discipleship in the City

In this track, we learn from the unique challenges and opportunities of urban ministry in cities like Chicago and Houston. Sessions will cover how multicultural churches engage in discipleship and how to help children living in poverty experience the presence of God. The track concludes with a panel discussion on forming disciples in diverse urban contexts featuring Dr. Steve Cloer, Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at HST; Patrick Odum and Carlos Estrada of Chicago’s Northwest Church of Christ; and Caroline Morales and Lluvia Delgado from Impact Houston.

To register and view the complete schedule, please visit https://www.harding.edu/events/lectureship/

05/13/2026

CCE is thrilled to welcome Harding University’s Ministry in the City class to Memphis. These 12 students arrived on Monday and are spending 10 days diving deep into the key complexities of urban life — exploring topics such as race, poverty, immigration, food insecurity, educational inequity, and homelessness. They started the week with a visit to City Hall, where they met with members of the Mayor’s staff to discuss how city government and faith communities work together to strengthen Memphis.

05/12/2026

City ministers, take this five-question survey to tell us what information and inspiration would be most valuable to you as you join God's mission in your cities. How might we make 'Church and City' a most trusted and valuable resource?

Ministers in the city need to make the most of their energy and time. Help us tune and fine tune Church and City to hit the sweet spot of the information and inspiration you need and want, how and when you need and want it. Please answer a few questions below.

05/12/2026

From its beginning, Christianity has been influenced by, and been a major influence on, the great cities of the world. 'Christians in the City,' a series of books by Bloomsbury Academic (and edited by Church of Christ minister and Pepperdine University professor Dyron Daughrity) explores this relationship. https://centerforchurchandcity.substack.com/p/book-series-explores-christianity

04/29/2026

Pray for Memphis met on April 28. Believers from across Memphis gathered at Easthaven Church of Christ for a time of food, fellowship, and heartfelt prayer for our city. A total of 47 people from churches throughout the city came together to lift up Memphis, share encouragement, and thank God for how he is moving in our community. It was a powerful reminder that when God’s people unite in prayer, hope and healing follow. We want to thank Easthaven Church of Christ and the members who hosted this event. Here are a few moments from our time together — a glimpse of faith, friendship, and gratitude in action.