Simon Institute

Utilizing the City as a Resource
Training Global Urban Ministry Practitioners

The Simon Institute provides training in global urban ministry, utilizing the resources of the church and of the city of Boston, to enable people to learn the transferable skills necessary for urban ministry. We live in a world of rapid urbanization where for the first time in human history more people live in the city than in the country according to a report from the United Nations Population Fund. It is necessary to be equipped for this new global reality whether preparing to do urban ministry in the U.S. or missionary work in another country. Yet many people who are sent to do Christian ministry overseas are often not equipped to do urban ministry even though they will likely be working in a city. There are some important theological, theoretical, and practical skills that are necessary for people to have an enduring and fruitful ministry in this kind of environment. We seek to a be a resource to provide this important foundational training.

The gospel, a story, our name

Mark’s gospel tells the story of a man named Simon from Cyrene, a Roman colony in Northern Africa. He was present in Jerusalem when the Roman solders conscripted him to carry Jesus’ cross. The gospel of Mark 15:21 identifies Simon by name and as the father of Alexander and. Rufus. This unique biographical note suggests that he was known to St. Mark’s Christian community and furthermore that Simon himself had become a follower of Jesus. As Christian disciples we are called to take up our cross and follow (Mark 8:34) and this model of Christian discipleship is the foundation for our understanding of the Church’s global urban mission. This institute is named in honor of Simon who encountered Jesus in the city of Jerusalem and shows us the way to go as urban disciples.

Directors

David Searles has 30 years of urban experience as a school caseworker, a church youth worker, a chaplain, and the lead pastor of Central Assembly of God Church since 1993. He has a Doctor of Ministry degree focusing on “Ministry in Complex Urban Settings” from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s C.U.M.E campus in Boston. David is the presbyter of the Boston Section of the Southern New England Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God. He is a member of the East Boston Peace Walk Organizers, serves on the East Boston Trauma Team, a member of the Black Ministerial Alliance, a member of the National Black Fellowship of the AG and is involved in outreach to at-risk youth.
Barbara Searles has 30 years of urban experience as clinical social worker, urban ministry leader, community activist and volunteer. Barbara has a Master’s of Social Work with a concentration in geriatric studies from Boston University. She is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since 2001 she has worked as a clinical social worker at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center in the PACE program which assists seniors in living a more independent life in the community. She has served on the PACE ethics committee and mentored social work interns. Barbara helps coordinate a Project Angel Tree ministry which reaches the children of prisoners, directs the children ministry at Central Assembly of God Church, and helps mentor ministry interns. They have been married for over 33 years and have two daughters, Abigail and Carolyn.