 |
.
2003 Emerging Leaders Conference
THEME:
Witnessing With Your Life:
Discerning your life direction, and Christ-centered witness
September
19 - 21, 2003 at the Quaker Hill Conference Center
and First Friends Meeting, Richmond, Indiana
Building card houses as an excercise during
a study track on starting new ministries.
Click here for pictures.
Emerging Leaders Encouraged
Fifty-five Friends from seven yearly meetings came to Richmond, Indiana, September 19-21, for a conference that included training in evangelism, starting new ministries, youth work, and leading worship. Highly energetic, the conference proved to be a time of deep sharing, challenge to faithfulness to the Gospel, and spiritual anointing during times of open worship. Several hundred had been nominated for this invitational conference from their yearly and monthly meetings - and even those who did not come, received the affirmation of knowing that Friends are seeing the call of God and gift of leadership in a new generation.
Here are excerpts from the reports of three participants. Click on links for full reports.
For me, the theme was evangelism....
On Friday night, Ben Richmond ... set the tone for the conference, by reminding us that whatever we might do for the Church, we are dependent upon God for the grace and strength to do it. We are called to listen to the living word of God in Jesus Christ and we are called to obey that Word. The Christian message is truly counter-cultural, in a world mired in materialism, inordinate sexuality and violence. We are called to proclaim a vision of that counterculture, which is the true culture God intended at the creation. Ben reflected that young people, especially, live in [a] mobile society, and they must be able to go anywhere, perhaps where there are no Meetings and,... become seedbeds for the gospel.
For me, the theme of the conference was evangelization, and John Muhanji, the evangelical preacher from Kenya, was a sign of the love of God in our lives, and the presence of Christ around the world. Here is a Friend from Africa, where there is a strong Quaker presence, and he revived our faith in Jesus with his preaching and his friendship. One of John's themes centered on the image of "infection." We are all leaders in the Church of God. All of us, no matter our daily tasks, are missionaries and evangelists for the Lord. We have become "infected" with the word of God, and we must pass on this glorious infection to all we meet.
A second theme of the conference for me was the promise of our young
people. Many young adult Friends were there in Richmond, listening for
what God is calling them to do, and considering how they might obey that
call. I was pleased to meet some of them and to feel the power of their
growing faith in Jesus, and the strength of their emerging sense of leadership
and ministry. There is a great hope for the future of Quakerism in these
fine young people."
Finbarr Lismore
Westburg Friends
New York Yearly Meeting
The ambition to shake things up
This leadership conference was inspiring. Inspiring because I came away with the ambition to shake things up and the education of what to do about it, a renewed heart in God, and a sense of hope for the future.
I think encouragement was key with Darlene Pittman. She challenged us to get the ball rolling by using our spiritual gifts and "having the confidence to know what those spiritual gifts are." Because of her speech, I have taken a closer look at where my strengths lie. That was great for me because I was still looking in the past. Now I know that teaching I something that need to pursue.
Marsha Woods was a dreamer, but she gave me the keys to start a new ministry. Her workshop showed me what I need to do to take an active role in the ministry and how to relate to some of the people with which I will be working. More than steps, I learned about people in her workshop.
I think Eric Woods woke us up when he asked if we "love God like we used to." He asked if we were still as passionate for Him as we were in the beginning. Rediscovering God and our own selves was an awesome part of this weekend.
With Retha McCutchen I found hope for the future. Through her life's story, I could see, once again, that God still works in mysterious ways. He took her seemingly disadvantaged position and put her where she is today; able to influence many people through conferences such as these and many other things. Her story proved to me that even I can make a difference.
Each leader brought something to the group as a whole. Whatever gift
he or she had in his pocket was what was pulled out making a kaleidoscope
of leadership. The future looks brighter, now. Knowing that I can make
a difference relying on God, using my gifts, and trusting other people,
I will go into the future with hope and inspiration.
Ashley Crew
First Friends, Kokomo
Western Yearly Meeting
Saturday afternoon one Friend asked me if I was feeling any culture shock since I come from the unprogrammed "liberal" tradition of Quakerism ... The particular language of Christianity was a notable difference. Unprogrammed Friends ... are more likely to favor a sharing of diverse languages and opinions....
This contrast in my experience at Richmond was deeply refreshing. I derive joy from a shared community language with particularity. I feel good about overtly expressed confidence in the saving power of Christ. I feel elevated by the types of assertions that are strong enough to sustain us in this life and at the hour of death. I hope and intend to meet my Creator equipped with more than a capacity to offer and consider diverse opinions.
So this experience was a joy for me, manifest not only in the strong
sense of community spirituality and community morality. I also enjoyed
the experience of hearing how such certainty can work in a person's life,
in a faith community's growth, and in one sub-tradition's relationship
with other Christian communities as we usher in the coming Kingdom. For
me this gathering was time well spent or, I should say, gift of time received.
John Benson
Purchase Monthly Meeting
New York Yearly Meeting
Contact North American Ministries for more information. (765) 962-7573.