Sí, Se Puede: Reflections on 50 Years in Ministry

The Reverend John L. Heinemeier was born in rural Texas to a family of preachers and followed his in father's and grandfather's footsteps into the ministry but served in a much different context. He found his calling in mostly poor urban churches with African American and Latino parishioners. In reflecting on his 50 years as a pastor, he exhorts the church to remain with the poor, to receive the riches of worship from various cultures, and to ground ministry in relationships of love.

"Sí, se puede -- yes, we can!" he says, "I believe that, that is in the life and heart of God. I believe that, that is talking kingdom of God. It's basically a kind of faith question whether or not you believe God can do things in and through us."

CHAPTERS (click on the time code to jump to a chapter in the video)

0:34 The centrality of relationships
1:34 "Sí, se puede"
2:31 Childhood and formation
3:16 Calling to cross-cultural ministry
4:16 Money in the church
5:29 Evangelism
6:49 Community organizing
8:35 Tension between family and ministry
11:24 "As close to the kingdom of God as I've ever been"
13:03 Messages to the church
16:06 Creating signs of the kingdom
17:03 Credits

Read about Reverend Heinemeier's ministry in his memoir athttp://home.mindspring.com/~sarahhei/...

Learn more about Saint Cyprian's parish where Reverend Heinemeier is the vicar: http://stcyprians.dionc.org.

Learn more about the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, in which Reverend Heinemeier serves: http://www.dionc.org.

CREDITS

Producer and Editor: James Todd

Adviser: Durward Rogers

Videographers: Miguel Perez, Isidro Rodriguez, James Todd and Summerlee Walter

Musicians: Julio Cuellar, Juan Gomez, Igelsia El Buen Pastor Choir, Brenda Lloyd, Diana Morgan, Saint Cyprian's Drummers,
Saint Cyprian's El Coro Latino and Saint Cyprian's Senior Choir

Photographs: East Brooklyn Congregations, The Heinemeier Family, Library of Congress and Saint Cyrpian's Episcopal Church

Support from: Center for Documentary Studies, Duke University Office of News and Communications, Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina and Saint Cyprian's Episcopal Church

Thanks to: Sharon Heinemeier, the Reverend Harriette Sturges, Pilar Timpane and Annmarie Todd