Baptist groups to host Small Church Leadership Conference May 9-11
Church leaders at small and rural Baptist congregations in Illinois have a chance to be renewed and inspired for their ministry through the Resource Leadership Conference, a new event that will be held May 9-11.
The Resource Leadership Conference will be held on Thursday to Saturday at The Chateau Hotel & Conference Center in Bloomington, Ill.
The event is a collaboration between the American Baptist Great Rivers Region, Judson University and Northern Theological Seminary.
"Small and rural churches are on the front lines of the kingdom of God and are an integral part of the ministry of Northern Seminary. We are excited to partner with Judson and our American Baptist friends to design programming to strengthen the local church and train successful ministers," said Dr. William Shiell, president of Northern Theological Seminary, Lisle. "Pastors and church leaders will learn content and deepen relationships that will give them courage and wisdom to reach their communities for Jesus."
Attendees will have five keynote presentations and choose from workshops highlighting innovative ministry strategies on topics such as church leadership and administration, worship in the small church, justice in the small church and the future of the small church.
More than 20 workshops will be offered during the event.
"The creation of the Resource Leadership Conference came about because we at Judson and Northern Theological Seminary wanted to assist the Great Rivers Region to provide inspiring worship experiences and educational resources for small and rural church leaders," said Dr. Gene Crume, Judson University president. "We want to help renew and inspire these church leaders by arranging for them to hear from speakers who have blessed our chapel and campus worship."
Keynote presentations will be given by Jolene Erlacher, founder of Leading Tomorrow; Rev. Dennis Edwards, associate professor of New Testament at Northern Theological Seminary; Dr. Lina AbuJamra, a pediatric ER doctor and founder of Living with Power Ministries; three-time Grammy Nominated Singer Michele Pillar; and Andy Gullahorn, a singer and songwriter.
"This is an amazing event with all three groups (GRR, Judson, Northern) coming together for the benefit of small and bi-vocational church pastors. We know it will be of tremendous help and encouragement to all those who attend," said Rev. Paul Gibson, regional executive minister for the Great Rivers Region.
Learn more about the conference or register at Resourcelc.org.
The American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region is a resource for challenging, empowering, assisting and representing the American Baptist faith communities in Illinois (excluding Cook, DuPage and Lake counties) and Missouri .
Judson University in Elgin is a fully accredited, private Christian institution representing the church at work in higher education. It offers degrees in more than 65 different majors and minors for traditional, graduate and adult students.
The Northern Theological Seminary of Lisle prepares leaders who will faithfully serve Jesus Christ with evangelical passion and mission skills in biblically grounded and culturally relevant ministries.