Sneak Peak: Bob Ekblad at VJN 2019!
God has called me to bring good news of Jesus’ love and Kingdom to the poor and oppressed through respectful presence, liberating Bible study and Spirit-empowered action, raising up, equipping, empowering and multiplying leaders from the margins and the mainstream as agents of Jesus-inspired advocacy, community and transformation.
Bob Ekblad
Hi folks, we’re over the moon to share the exciting news that Bob Ekblad will be joining us and speaking throughout the whole “Get Proximate” conference in November. If you’re not familiar with Bob’s work, now’s the time! You can watch the recent 20-minute documentary, Bob Ekblad – Liberating Fire,
Most recently, Bob’s come out with a new book: Guerrilla Gospel: Reading the Bible for Liberation in the Power of the Spirit. It’s a fresh approach to Bible study, with a particular eye to reading Scripture from the perspective of those on the margins. He’s coined the term “guerrilla Bible study”:
Jesus was born into a world marked by oppression and injustice to announce and embody God’s global liberation movement. Like an insurgent, Jesus comes in under the radar, behind enemy lines, and then builds a foundation of trust with a growing entourage of humble followers. He incites a revolution that he calls the Kingdom of God. Guerrilla Gospel: Reading the Bible for Liberation in the Power of the Spirit is a practical manual that condenses the outlines of God’s liberation movement. In this book you will learn to identify and overcome common obstacles to stepping into active faith, grow in your awareness of how God speaks and the Spirit guides, discover approaches to preparing messages that invite conversion and holistic transformation, learn essential basics for preparing and leading Bible studies and grow in understanding how the gifts of the Spirit are available now to provide essential support for the adventure of faith.
Check out Liberating Fire,a 20-minute documentary on Bob’s call to ministry and Tierra Nueva: https://vineyardjusticenetwork.org/watch-the-liberating-fire-of-bob-eckblad/
More about Bob and Gracie Ekblad’s ministries:
Bob and wife Gracie founded Tierra Nueva in Honduras in 1982, which began as a sustainable farming, preventive health program and grassroots Bible study movement. In 1989 they moved to France to pursue studies in theology. They both completed their Masters in Theology from the Institut Protestant de Théologie in Montpellier. Bob completed his Doctorate in Theology with an emphasis in Old Testament with Daniel Bourguet. Bob has been member of the French Fraternité Espirituelle Les Veilleurs since 1992.
Bob and Gracie currently pastor, teach courses in Scripture and ministry, lead retreats and oversee Tierra Nueva. Bob has written The Theology of the Septuagint of Isaiah According to the Servant Poems, (Peeters: Leuven, 1998), Reading the Bible with the Damned, (Westminster John Knox Press; Louisville, 2005), and A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God (Westminster John Knox: Louisville, 2008), which have been published in French with Editions Olivetan.
In 2004, Bob, Gracie and their entire ministry were deeply touched by the Holy Spirit in a fresh way – leading them into a dynamic confluence of social action and advocacy, physical and inner healing, Scripture study, and contemplative and charismatic spirituality. Over the past six years, Bob has traveled regularly to France, Honduras and has made trips to Mozambique, South Africa, the UK, Korea, Sweden, Latvia, the Philippines and around the United States teaching on the ministry of Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
The People’s Seminary is Tierra Nueva’s ministry training center for pastors, theology students and lay people.
Bob and Gracie are committed to the emergence of a new paradigm and praxis that brings together diverse emphasis and parts of the body of Christ in the service of the least– on earth as in heaven.