A Cultural Approach to Evangelism of My Latin American Neighbor

For many Latin Americans, their religious beliefs are deeply intertwined with their cultural history.  For not only was/is their culture, in large measure, a product of the teaching of their Catholic-Christian heritage, but that Catholic-Christian heritage, at the same time, was an adaptation of the Latin American culture.  For this reason, effective evangelism of Latin Americans must not be strictly orientated to traditional evangelistic methods, but rather must keep in mind the reciprocal relationship between Latin American Catholic-Christian beliefs and Latin American culture.  This course will equip you with a better understanding of that reciprocal relationship and provide for you several cultural approaches to more effectively reach out to your Latin American neighbor with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Presented by: Marcos Wittig

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

A Globinar for Changing Missions in the Local Church

Is your church keeping its missions program going with bubble gum, band aids and baling wire?  Is missions done in your church by a faithful few?  Do you desire that more in your congregation would “get it” when it comes to outreach?  This Globinar will present a proven plan that will dramatically change the way your church sees, understands and actively engages in reaching the community, nation and world for Christ.

Presented by: Stan Self

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

A Leap of Faith

In order to make a leap of faith, there isn’t a safety net required.  Too many times what holds us back from doing God’s work is making sure the safety net is in place that we never truly rely on Him.  Take the leap of faith.  We will explore the daily balance between responsibility and faith that we are faced with when running mission based programs.

Presented by: Andrea Williams

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

Building Relationships to Build the Kingdom of God

There are many ways to witness to the lost world.  Building a strong, loving relationship should be our starting point.  Building a relationship with the people we are witnessing to, helps to build a foundation of trust.  To be effective in witnessing, we must first show the love of Christ to the lost by loving them ourselves.  This seminar will discuss the importance, difficulties, and ways to establish trust in cross cultural relationships.

Presented by: Joel Aycock

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

Christian Women’s Job Corps® and You - Changing Lives One Woman at a Time

Come learn about how God is changing the lives of our participants and how you can serve with Christian Women’s Job Corps® of Madison County.  We will provide an understanding of poverty as a lack of resources and discuss those resources so that volunteers will be better equipped to relate to those in poverty. This is an opportunity to get involved in missions on a local level.  A variety of volunteer opportunities to suit your experience and schedule will be discussed.

Presented by: Elaine Dickson

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Church Planting and Evangelism in Indonesia

The name of the ministry that Tom oversees is translated “One heart” and is based in Indonesia. Tom has seen God move in might and power among the people of Indonesia. You will hear stories of God’s power and might bringing people to Jesus that will encourage and inspire you.

Presented by: Tom (name changed to protect identity)

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Culturally Relevant Evangelism

From evangecubes to twitter feeds, we’re constantly trying to make our presentation of the Gospel relevant to specific cultural settings. In this workshop, we’ll explore the power of narrative and symbol as well as look at the connection between the medium, message, and interface. The power of the Gospel is its ability to speak across a diversity of cultures. However, we must be aware that our attempts at relevance and contextualization inherently affect the message. In this workshop we will imagine new ways of being relevant while understanding the impact upon our message.

Presented by: Chris Powell

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

Developing a Mission-Minded Children’s Ministry

Discover how to include missions in every area of your Children's Ministry.  We will look at practical and well-tested ways to transform your Children’s Ministry into one where children are challenged to develop a passion for sharing their love of Christ with others.  Children really can change the world for Jesus today!

Presented by: Julie Durling

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

Dispelling stereotypical myths about the homeless…you might be surprised!

A delineation of the various levels of homelessness, and the challenges facing each one, will be explored.  You’ll hear from a number of resource agencies that this ministry team leans on and partners with in the Huntsville and surrounding area.  Learn the “DOs” and “DON’Ts” of working with the street homeless, and enjoy the anecdotal stories and examples that come with both.  A time will also be set aside for personal prayer and meditation.

Presented by: John Gaylor and Gary Suders

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

Ends of the Earth Missions and the Small Church

If you have never done a foreign mission trip, it may seem as difficult as going to the moon.  It does not have to be!  A church of any size can serve the Lord at the ends of the earth.  Come and learn the basics of developing partnerships and planning to send teams to the ends of the earth.  It is not as difficult as it may seem.

Presented by: Bart Bowlin, Senior Pastor, Gordo UMC

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Everyday Mission for Everyday People

To become a real movement in our time, we have to release the people of God fully into the mission fields of their everyday life and the rhythms included therein.  Everyone needs to be in the game.  We will explore the principles and approaches laid out in the book, Right Here, Right Now, by Lance Ford and Alan Hirsch.

Presented by: Lance Ford

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

Finding God’s Vision for Your Life/Leadership Beyond

God has a plan for each of us.  This plan is revealed through discovering God’s vision for your life.  Wes Griffin will use his personal experience to help you discern God’s call on your life.  He will also provide practical instructions to help you move forward into the future that God has for you, including the fact that God has a bigger vision for your church that you have ever considered.  The key will be the leadership to take you into the future that God can see.

Presented by: Wes Griffin

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

Following the Dream God has Given You

In this workshop Wayne Tesch will present the six building blocks of a God given dream. He will elaborate on how to follow God's direction in bringing this dream to reality.

Presented by: Wayne Tesch

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

Guidelines for Short - Term Mission Team Leaders

This workshop is designed to provide structure for the training of short - term mission team leaders, as well as some suggestions as to the content of that training. It will speak to the need for training, the responsibilities of the team leader, ideas for team meetings, and issues pertinent to all aspects of leading a short - term team, from before the first meeting until after the trip is over. It should be valuable for those who may be team leaders and those who may have the responsibility for making sure teams are well prepared to be sent on mission.

Presented by: Pastor Jimmy Aycock

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

How Jesus Would Serve Our At-Risk Youth and Families

Battlefield Ministries, Inc. is attempting to become a full-service ministry within one of Madison County's most high risk areas.  They have a 13,000 square foot facility equipped with a computer lab, education room, gymnasium/skating rink, game room, cafeteria, thrift store and produce shed.  Services offered include an academy for Pre-K3 thru 1st grade, after-school and summer camp, GED, Bible study and worship.

Presented by: Melvin Allen

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

I AM Second

Why SECOND? What’s SECOND? How’s SECOND relate to the current I AM SECOND movement going on in the USA? Well, come and hear how God has used this incredible method to anchor some of the most incredible church planting movements in recent history. We’ll tell you the story of John Chen and how God used him and a Chinese church community of 250 people in 2000 to plant over 15,000 new churches and baptize more than 160,000 believers in 3 short years … a movement still exploding! In our simple Bible discussions, there is no designated teacher other than THE TEACHER, the Holy Spirit speaking out of the Word of God! Using the acronym SECOND, we learn how to tell stories in small groups that expand via new groups rather than growing larger … where everyone contributes … where everyone is considered a potential leader … everyone is looking to discuss and discover Truth through obediently keeping our Lord’s commandments. Expect to be able to influence your family, work space, classmates and communities for Jesus Christ once this workshop has been completed.

Presented by: Mike & Mary Wagner

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

If Helping Hurts…. How can Hurting Help?

Beginning with one of the major premises of the popular book, When Helping Hurts, this workshop will examine some of the more common pitfalls present in church/mission-area relationships.  Yet far from creating a simple “Do Not Do List,” we’ll explore how to creatively partner with international ministries, which may in fact involve some degree of pain or “hurt” on both sides of the relationship.

Presented by: Ray Zirkel

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

Inside-Out Ministries Workshop: Poverty, Compassion, and Benevolence

In this workshop we hope to expose the three main causes of poverty and there effects on the community and individuals. Once we understand poverty and its effects we have to learn to be compassionate in dealing with the effects in people’s lives. It is “loving the least of those in needs,” yet in some instances it requires love that is tough.  These two factors poverty and compassion is what drives the needs for benevolence.  Benevolence is putting compassion into action to deal with the effects of poverty. That’s what we do at Inside-Out Ministries every day and we are here to share our knowledge and experiences.

Presented by: Larry and Deborah Ward

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

International and Domestic Disaster Relief

Samaritan's Purse has nearly 20 years of experience in disaster response assisting victims of war, poverty and natural disasters.  During this session, we will cover the approach of Samaritan's Purse to disaster response, current trends, opportunities and challenges within humanitarian aid and how you and your church can get involved with Samaritan's Purse within the US and abroad.

Presented by: Jordan Lycan & Kerry Dodson

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

Love has no Chains

This workshop will begin with using a Biblical base for the development of the prison ministry.  We will continue with the realities that affect the inmates, former inmates, their families and victims of crime.  We will finish with a practical application of how we as disciples of Christ can and must be channels through which the love of Christ pours. Various techniques will be used so that all the participants can build bridges to have an empathic vision of how to share the love of Chris in the prison ministry context, despite the obstacles.  There will be time for questions, answers and prayers.  We pray that Jesus pours His love into our hearts (Romans 5:5 and Titus 3:5-6) and we are to pour that Love out to a lost and hurting world (Phil 2:5-7).

Presented by: Carlos Cunningham

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

Manna on the Mountain: Pouring out God’s blessing through service

We may live in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, but the culture of Appalachia is alive and well on Sand Mountain.  The Appalachian culture can present challenges in working with those God calls us to serve.  It is often hard for people to accept the help they may need.  While they are grateful for your desire to help, they worry that someone else might need it more than they do.  In describing the area I have always called home, I most often use the word “different.”  Sand Mountain is a place where respect and dignity are more valuable than gold and silver- so our work must focus on offering a hand up rather than a hand out.  Join me to learn more about this area, the mission work that Upper Sand Mountain Parish has been doing here for 43 years, and how you can serve with us as we seek to pour out God’s blessings to the mountain.

Presented by: Tayna Rains

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Ministries Working Together to Meet the Needs of Our People

This workshop will highlight the ministry of the Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP). HAP has been in existence for seven years, having started with seven churches and now has 70 partner churches. HAP serves persons in Huntsville city and Madison County with financial needs such as rent, utilities, etc. as well as job referrals, counseling referrals and finding church homes for those not presently attending a church.

Presented by: Gayla Kidd

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

Ministry Opportunities at Rescue Missions: Not Just a Soup Kitchen Anymore

Acts 1:8b states, “and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  When thinking about missions or mission trips, many think about the uttermost parts before they think about their own Jerusalem and Judea.  In most cities, your local rescue mission can give you an opportunity to do a mission trip and reach the poor and needy without having to travel around the world.  Therefore, most missions are no longer “just a soup kitchen.”  Missions today have short and long term programs for all ages of men, women and children.  Come to this seminar to learn how you can pour yourself into these exciting ministries right in your own back yard.

Presented by: Keith Overholt, MBA

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Partnering Together to Reach Out Across the Street or Around the World

In this workshop, Bryan will explore the importance and power of the local church connected in partnership with cross-cultural workers in the field.  We will see that we are all called to serve on Mission with God and through partnership, great things happen for the Kingdom.  We will look at ways that partnerships work  in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Presented by: Bryan Tatum

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Quest for Happiness Ministry - Caring for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nairobi

Pastor Julius will share about the challenges of caring for orphans and vulnerable children in Nairobi. Have you ever wondered whether God is going to give a “final exam” when you stand before him? Matthew 25:31-46 will be reviewed in answer to this important question. In Kenya half of the orphans have lost their parent to HIV/AIDS. This increased to 2.3 million in 2010. Orphans have many psychological stress and trauma. The HIV/AIDS is a crisis of enormous spiritual, social and political proportions. It requires religious leader who can use the trust and authority they have in their communities to change the course of the pandemic.

Presented by: Julius Mbaya Makathimo

Time: CANCELLED (due to Visa Issues) 9 to 11 a.m.

Raising Financial Resources for Missions

Funding your mission outreach program is critical to success.  Join Wes Griffin to learn practical strategies for mobilizing your congregation to increase giving to missions.

 

Presented by: Wes Griffin

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

Reaching the Unreached Peoples of the World

Nearly 2 billion people in the world are considered unreached.  The church must allocate resources to reach people who have not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In this workshop, we will discuss ways for a congregation to focus prayers, energy, and effort on an unreached people group and fight for those who don’t know Christ.

Presented by: Edwin Leon

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Serving the community with Christ’s Love – The Asbury Community Thrift Store

The Asbury Community Thrift Store accepts donations of all sorts and provides reasonably priced merchandise to the community. The proceeds from the thrift store help support a number of organizations in the community who serve those in need. Come learn how the Asbury Community Thrift Store shows the love of Christ to the people in the Madison community.

Presented by: Ann Pospicil

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Serving to Empower

This workshop will explore the biblical, missiological and practical aspects of serving the world’s poorest communities in a transformational way.  It will enlighten the participants toward an emerging mission strategy-- to empower the local churches to meet the physical as well as spiritual needs of their neighbors.  Come and learn the new paradigm of missiology:  empowerment.

Presented by: Dr. Florence Muindi

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

Telling the Story of the Kingdom of God

As we investigate Jesus’ model of communicating with others, we see that it was based on telling stories to people to make known the Kingdom of God.  In this workshop we will follow the same patterns choosing biblical stories that are read and based in questions, which is the key for creating interaction allowing the Holy Spirit to flow and teach all of us what God wants for each.  Story telling creates an informal environment being an effective tool for small groups whether the people know how to read or not.  We will explore 1) crafting the stories from the Bible and 2) reading them directly from the Bible.  In addition, we will investigate 6 questions to help the story take root in the listeners.  We have found this to be a very effective tool for expanding the Kingdom of God.

Presented by: Moises & Talsy Vega

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

The hope of Christ in every student

God has called all of us to influence the world we live in. You work were you work, live where you live, see the people you see every day because God put you there. This workshop will help all of understand how God has called us to partner with Him to redeem His creation. God’s First Priority should be ours. Rom. 12:1-2

Presented by: Mark Roberts

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

The Incarnational Model-- Reflecting the Image and Likeness of God to Those Around Us

Based on the books of Hebrews and John, we will look at examples from the prophets of old to Jesus and to our world today where God has revealed His heart and has exposed the human heart.  Terry and Karla will pull examples from over twenty years experience living incarnationally among the Quechua Panao people in Peru and will encourage us to see God’s heart and to have our hearts exposed through the Holy Spirit.

Presented by: Terry Smith & Karla Smith

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

The Ministry of Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL)

This workshop will include a discussion concerning the reasons and importance of offering an ESL ministry in your church and practical suggestions on how to begin and how to organize an ESL ministry.  You will experience beginning, intermediate and advanced lessons taught by our ESL teachers and suggested materials to use will be discussed.  You will also learn how to incorporate through weekly classes how to share God's word and His message of hope to all people.  We will touch on how to teach English on short term mission trips.  Additionally, we will pray together for our churches' ESL ministries.

Presented by: Ann Aycock, Jackie Norton & Asbury ESL Team

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

Three Things Every Partnership Needs to Succeed

What are the essentials of cross-cultural partnership? To have authentic partnerships, we must have vision, relationship and results.  Not one of these can be ignored. Reduce partnership to vision, and it becomes no more than good intentions.  Reduce it to relationship, and it becomes fellowship without a purpose.  Reduce it to results, and it loses its capacity to remain faithful.  In this workshop, Daniel Rickett will introduce the fundamentals of partnering in the gospel and provide practical assessment tools and checklists.

Presented by: Daniel Rickett, Ph.D.

Time: Friday 9 to 11 a.m.

Transforming the Appalachain Region through Leadership Formation

While many issues continue to persist in the central Appalachian region, Dr. O. Taylor Collins, Executive Director of Red Bird Mission, will share how Red Bird Mission brings about transformation through leadership formation.  Red Bird Mission touches the lives of more than 14,000 people in three eastern Kentucky mountain counties. He will also share his vision of creating systemic change in the region utilizing Christian leaders formed at Red Bird Mission.

Presented by: Dr. O. Taylor Collins

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

UMCH in the 21st Century

Participants in this workshop will explore how UMCH creatively and faithfully serves the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of children, youth and families in Alabama and northwest Florida. UMCH has recently completed the transition from campus-based organization located in Selma, Alabama to community-based organization headquartered in Montgomery and offers a wide diversity of programs. Led by the Chaplain, this will be an interactive workshop focusing on how UMCH transforms lives and offers hope through high quality residential and foster care, parenting classes, family preservation ministries, life coaching and spiritual development opportunities.

Presented by: Rev. Lonna Lynn Higgs

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.

WAY-FM: Using media in a culturally relevant way to influence this generation to love and follow Jesus

Come and learn how WAY – FM uses media in a culturally relevant way to influence this generation to love and follow Jesus.

Presented by: Thom Ewing & Kris Spain

Time: Saturday 2 to 4 p.m.

What God is Doing through RIMI in South Asia by the Pouring of His Spirit!

This workshop will introduce the story of Saji Lukos, the ministry details of RIMI and will challenge God's people to get involved in reaching the unreached people.  RIMI is involved in evangelism and church planting, leadership development and compassion services.  With over 1.2 people in India alone, this is a big task which can only be accomplished by mobilizing the whole church.  Do not miss this seminar as you will be encouraged and challenged to come to India and participate in what God is doing in South Asia.

Presented by: Saji Lukos

Time: Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

Youth Ministry as Mission

As youth pastors and youth ministers we have a special calling to the youth we serve.  They are our mission field.  It is critical to have a clear understanding of the relationship we have with our youth.  Paul understood this relationship well.  To the church at Philippi, Paul sends Timothy.  Timothy is sent because as Philippians 2:20 shows, Timothy was genuinely concerned with their welfare.  Timothy wanted to see them growing and strong in their minds, bodies, and souls.  This was his calling. Together in this session we will explore the call and “Jerusalem Mission” to our youth.  We will explore the visions, goals, plans, methods, and more we can employ to genuinely care for the people to whom we have been called.

Presented by: Peter Dahlin

Time: Friday 2 to 4 p.m.