The gospel, a story, our name - Mark’s gospel The gospel of Mark tells the story of a man named Simon, who was 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 as a result he became a follower who took up the cross and followed Jesus.
Core Vision - Utilizing the city as a resource for the church’s global mission. "A City is not an accident" is the message that frames the view of the Boston skyline from LoPresti Park in East Boston Often cities are viewed solely as places where there are immense problems like poverty, crime, housing issues, an almost endless list. And like an accident the problems leave behind wreckage. To be sure, cities have problems that need solving but it is also important to see what assets cities have to offer. At the Simon Institute we would like to challenge the church to think about this question, “How does the city function as a resource to help us to understand and do the Church’s global mission.” We believe that the triune God is already at work by the Spirit in the world and in the city. An important part of our task is to prayerfully discern where God is already at work in our churches, in our neighborhoods, and in the city and then to find ways to nurture this vitality. The city is not an accident but a resource for the Church's global mission.
Directors
David Searles has 29 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 29 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 30 years and have two daughters, Abigail and Carolyn.
David Searles has 29 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 29 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 30 years and have two daughters, Abigail and Carolyn.