Michael Mata is the director of the transformational urban leadership program at Azusa Pacific Seminary. An experienced urban planner and pastor, Michael has spent over 30 years in leading and equipping others in urban transformation through the creation of community and church-based programs. His work has focused on community transformation, youth leadership development, public health, intercultural outreach, and multiethnic ministry. Mata serves as community transformation specialist for Compassion Creates Change, Inc., and was the director of Tools for Transformation for World Vision’s U.S. programs. In this episode of RePlacing Church, he joins me to discuss:

Why transformational urban leadership is needed

How to empower urban youth

Tools for engaging your neighborhood’s “built environment”

How to read the spirituality of your neighborhood

How churches can help neighborhoods move from gentrification to “gentefication”

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Episode Song Credits: "Another Wrong to Right" and "You Won't Walk Alone" by Mercir. "Closed" by Zadok Wartes. Used with Permission.

Production Assistance by Nate Tubbs.