Array of church ministry helps offered at Ft. Worth conference

By Texan Staff
July 29, 2012
No Comments

FORT WORTH—The Equip Mega Conference—with 14 church equipping events in one location—will be Aug. 16-18 at Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, and will offer church leaders honing for nearly every aspect of church ministry.

From a church staff retreat on Thursday and Friday geared to strategic planning and refreshment to a full slate of Saturday events to equip church staff and lay leaders, the conference is a virtual university setting for best church practices, said Kenneth Priest, SBTC church ministries associate.

“Equip is designed to address all facets of your church’s ministry—from volunteer needs to equipping church members for kingdom growth to practical needs in the everyday life of the church,” Priest said. “Preschool to senior adults, evangelism to church staff—we have something for you.”

Through Aug. 13, there is one registration fee— $15—for 11 of the 14 events ($20 at the door). Special registration is required for the Family Ministry Forum ($25 for up to five staff) on Friday, Aug. 17, the SENT Missions Lab ($25 per person), which runs all three days, and the Transitional Pastor Training ($100), which runs Aug. 16-17.

CHURCH STAFF RETREAT

Registration also covers the church staff retreat event from 1–9 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Friday, which includes group leadership sessions with Steve Stroope, pastor of Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources, and Wayne Hoover, senior director of field operations for Chick-fil-A.

During the church staff retreat, ministry experts in dozens of ministry areas will be available for consultations with churches. Hoover’s presentation will show how the Chick-fil-A “serve model” can be applied in a church setting.

“They come prayed up and ready to focus the church staff time on the needs of their churches. We will provide the space, connect you with a hotel for lodging, and recommend restaurants or offer a catered meal for you to choose,” Priest said.

EQUIPPING CHURCHES CONFERENCE

An Equipping Churches Conference from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. that Saturday (Aug. 18) will help staff and lay leaders in all areas of church ministry.

MEN OF IMPACT RALLY

This event from 7-9 p.m. on Friday features a $5 optional dinner. Speakers will include Stroope and Chuck Lawless, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at Southern Seminary. The event aims to challenge Christ-like men to focus on developing other men to be spiritual mentors in the home, church, workplace, and world.

BLACK CHURCHES EQUIPPING CONFERENCE

This year the Black Churches Equipping Conference is incorporated into the larger mega-conference. Scheduled from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, it allows church leaders and members a buffet of 40-plus workshops in one weekend that will address almost every area of Christian service.

Other events include:

• Stewardship Conference:

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 18)

• Family Ministry Forum:

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday (Aug. 17)

• Children’s Music Leader Conference:

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday

• Kid’s Conference:

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday

• Texas One-Day Sunday School

Equipping: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday

• SENT Lab: all day Aug. 16-18