Engage Conference

3rd Oct 2009 Eden Community Church
Presented by Pathways Bible College and PastorLink.

Engage is a one day conference designed to inspire and equip Christians to more effectively Engage their church, their community, their Faith. The speakers and workshops throughout the day will be practical so you will leave with information and resources you can use straight away.

Two key note addresses will be given by Paul Windsor and Russell Burt.

The following workshops will be presented:
Lui Ponifasio and Russell Grainger: Both of the churches these men pastor are engaging their communities in very effective, but different ways. What exactly have they done? How can i take some of their ideas and apply them to my own church context?

Chris Opie: Chris is the Music director for the Street City Church, Wellington. Chris will cover a range of topics from identifying biblical principles for corporate and personal worship, to considering how different approaches to worship can be applied in local contexts, to exploring possibilities for interpreting worship in ways appropriate for contemporary congregations. This elective will be beneficial for anyone involved in any level of worship in their local church.

Craig Barrow: Preaching for Life Change. The word of God is indeed powerful! This elective will discuss how to preach God’s word in a way that will impact people and lead them to life change. Some of the areas to be discussed are the importance of application, illustrations, exposition, audience engagement, and the personal impact of the sermon.

Debbie Bossé and Katie Ward: Debbie and Katie work with Children and Youth at NorthCross Community church. This elective will look at how you can get a New Ministry/Programme up and Running. It will be very practical, moving from inspiration and vision, through to the building of a team to implement it.

Emma Stokes: GCiM, Headspace. What are the benefits to your church in engaging in Missions. Emma will provide guidance and resources to help your church organize a short term missions trip, and to engage much better with the missionaries you currently support.

There are two other electives still to be confirmed.

(Please note: the community, worship and preaching electives will go for the whole four hours, but each 2 hour session will be taught independently. So, for example, you could go to Children and Youth in the morning, and worship in the afternoon).

For more information please call the pathways office, or email craig@pathways.ac.nz
http://www.pathways.ac.nz/engage

Weekend Reflections

Had breakfast with our leaders at our place 6am Saturday morning. That’s crazy…. Great fun… we probably woke up the neighbours…… time to catch up. Our guys are so pumped with what God is doing at church and our next season as a church.

Spent the whole Saturday thinking, preparing, studying, reading, praying…..……..

Sunday morning on the way to church I prayed, “Holy Spirit bring conviction to our hearts”

Overwhelmed with the presence of God during worship.

There was a great sense of freedom and excitement. During worship I looked behind me and on the bleachers!! What a joy it is for any pastor to see young people worshipping God HARD OUT!! Church is the place to be on Sunday mornings!!

Preached my heart out.  Spoke on the heart of Jesus for the lost and the role of the church as representatives of Jesus …..along those lines…… Initially I planned to preach on the ‘Christ in the Community’ but after Saturday …..in my sermon preparations it ended up in a different direction…  The Holy Spirit answered my prayer and definitely brought conviction to our hearts.

On Sunday, we also launched our new season of Outreach. 2009 we will only be doing a few ‘Bridge Events’

Servolution: 3 days of Serving the Community

$2 Christmas.

Weekly Bread Run – Free to Randwick Park Community

Rubbish Collection – monthly

Paint Out – monthly

Global Day of Prayer

Prayer Walk