Everyone will sit under their own vine
and under their own fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
for the Lord Almighty has spoken.
Micah 4:4
Join the Revolution
In a world awash with weapons, enormous income disparities, and violence perpetrated against vulnerable people designed to uphold an unjust economic and political status quo, God promises a future where those ostracized will be brought in, the rich and powerful will serve the poor and forgotten, and safety and security will be experienced by ALL people. The Fig Tree Revolution is committed to remind us of these Kin-dom dreams that exist even now in glimpses.
Far too many churches are faltering, dedicated primarily to their own institutional survival. And under this current administration, evangelicals have chosen triumphalism over service and justice. This is now a time for new dreams, new connections, and new leaders; a new expression of what it is to be church. Fig Tree Revolution seeks to prophetically speak to injustices both inside and outside the church. Fig Tree Revolution wants to change the world. Wanna join us?
Who we are
While a number of people have contributed in many ways to Fig Tree Revolution, the primary source of passion for Fig Tree is Bill Mefford.
Bill has spent over thirteen years working with people of faith from across the United States building grassroots movements to end mass incarceration, defend and support the rights of immigrants, abolish the death penalty, end gun violence, and ensure religion is not used to harm others. Bill has also spent a number of years in local churches, working as a pastor, youth pastor, campus ministry leader, missions pastor, and urban missionary. Bill is a lay person and is called to lay ministry.
Bill believes that the locus of God's change and transformation in the world is through the local church and ten years working at the national level of the United Methodist Church has only confirmed that. He is passionate about connecting people who have similar passions and visions which drives the very essence of Fig Tree Revolution. Bill started Fig Tree Revolution as a means of challenging institutionally-controlled liberalism in the church and political reforms which only further entrench the political and economic status quo. A world awash in weapons and burdened by massive oppression and marginalization needs more than incrementalism; the world and the church need revolution!
Bill is married to Marti who is a gifted social worker and lover of people, and he has two amazing sons, Elisha and Isaiah. Bill is a Cubs and Browns fan so he is intimately acquainted with long-term struggles.
To conspire with Bill, email him at Bill@figtreerevolution.com or leave a message below.
The fig tree revolution
is now a book!
The locus of God's change and transformation in the world is through local groups of believers immersed in relationships among those directly impacted by injustice. Movements for justice throughout history have always been powered by grassroots people with shared passion and vision for concrete change in the face of injustice. This book is geared to help local churches to engage in the transformative and missional work of justice. Based on the first four chapters in Esther and drawn from real stories of real people creating real change, this book is perfect for small groups, Sunday school classes, student groups, or mission teams that want to be inspired and find practical steps to take to mobilize people in their local churches to participate in God's call to change the world. Be a part of the movement among God's people for justice. Join the Fig Tree Revolution!
you can order the fig tree revolution for you & your church or community here!
praise for the fig tree revolution:
dr. gregory leffel
The journey into social justice activism begins with the first step - and with an experienced guide to lead us. Always a warm-hearted communicator and a passionate activist, Bill Mefford brings the wisdom of years to congregation-based social justice leadership, and deep faith to the challenge and joy of standing with the least and the left-behind. Read The Fig Tree Revolution and learn from the best. Then get busy. You have a long road ahead!
Dr. Leffel is the author of Faith Seeking Action: Mission, Social Movements, and the Church in Motion
Rev. Shalom Agtarap
The same question that is asked of Esther, is asked of us:"What are you being called to do?" Often, as people of faith, our first response is mercy - but when we stop there - our generous acts can keep unjust situations in place. This is a great resource to support growth beyond charity, and even activism, into deep relationships that enable us to walk alongside our neighbor.
Rev. Agtarap is the Associate Director for A New Church for the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church
Kristin Kumpf
As people of faith, we are called to be a part of the revolution of God's love and justice in this broken world. But how do we actually make that happen? Through unpacking the story of Esther and sharing insights from years of on-the-ground ministry and organizing. Bill shows us a path to change. If you have wondered how to build deeper relationships in ministry, organize for justice, and bring about the transformation of the world, grab a copy of "The Fig Tree Revolution" and invite your church or community to read with you! The revolution will take all of us.
Kristin is the Director of Human Migration and Mobility for the American Friends Service Committee.
ORGANIZER'S ROUNDTABLE
The Organizer's Roundtable are a series of videos from Facebook live events where collective wisdom is shared for how we can build powerful movements to achieve real and concrete change with people directly impacted by injustice. Join us on Facebook to see when the next Organizer's Roundtable is happening!
Organizer's Roundtable: One Year of trumpism, Part 2
Organizer's Roundtable: One Year of trumpism (January 19, 2018)
resources to resist
We strongly encourage you to check out the resources and websites below and USE the resources to address the harmful policies that will be coming out of the donald trump administration.
And remember, our best resources are each other so join the Fig Tree Revolution by signing up below to ensure the RESISTANCE grows!
The fig tree revolution: unleashing local churches into the mission of justice
The locus of God's change and transformation in the world is through local groups of believers immersed in relationships among those directly impacted by injustice. This book is geared to help local churches to engage in the transformative and missional work of justice. Based on the first four chapters in Esther and drawn from real stories of real people creating real change, this book is perfect for small groups, Sunday school classes, student groups, or mission teams that want to be inspired and find practical steps to take to mobilize people in their local churches to participate in God's call to change the world.
Photo: Steve Pavey www.stevepavey.com
it is crucial for immigrants to know their rights
With a trump administration likely to arrest, detain, and deport millions of immigrants it is crucial for immigrants to know their rights. The National Immigration Law Center has excellent resources you can download and hand out to folks that talk about what their rights are when encountering law enforcement, when they are victims of a raid, or even when participating in a demonstration. Please connect below and share these with immigrants in your community.
Photo: Steve Pavey www.stevepavey.com
stand with standing rock
Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) has created an excellent resource to stand with the people at Standing Rock and to understand this movement for protecting the land and resources and for understanding this specific movement within the larger context of settle colonialism. It contains ideas for short and immediate actions as well as longer and more intense actions.
the revolution will be televised
Remembering Sandra Bland, featuring our own Kenya Cummings. These voices are among our greatest treasures of 2016. We hope you will hear them, believe them, and take their words to heart.
When prosecutor and devout Christian Preston Shipp began teaching in a Nashville prison, he never thought he'd be the one to get schooled. But the friendship he forges with one young prisoner puts his faith in the justice system and in Jesus to the ultimate test.
When just 16-years-old, Jasmine was forced to fend for herself when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted her undocumented parents. Going to high school during the day and working at night, she couldn't make ends meet and suffered extreme poverty and oppressive loneliness. This is when the church stepped in.
Unfortunately, the document put forward by the Global Methodist Church is ultimately a failed attempt that I am afraid will indeed cause more harm than good. In fact, I believe what they have shared is ultimately heretical. Below is why I believe this is so and I also try and offer some solutions for the folks with the GMC.