Tri-district
conference in St. Louis

By Dave Fiedler

ST. LOUIS, Missouri—Nearly 400 people from the North Central, Central and Mid-South districts attended a regional conference in St. Louis, Friday, May 4, to Sunday, May 6. The event took place at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield.

The main presentations included those by Pastor General Joseph Tkach titled, "Do You See What I See?"; two by Dan Rogers, superintendent of ministers, on stewardship and disciple-making; and one on the new financial model by controller Ronald Kelly.

Carn Catherwood, South Central district superintendent, discussed reconciliation along with Willard High, Chicago South pastor.

A number of breakout sessions were available, including the subjects of women in ministry, principles of conflict resolution, youth ministry, and small church worship techniques. Also included were open forums for pastors and members from the three districts represented: North Central, superintendent Dave Fiedler; Central, Randy Bloom; and Mid-South, Bob Taylor.

The conference was a time of worship, fellowship and networking with members from a wide section of Mid-America. An evening of praise and worship took place Saturday night, and the conference closed with a worship service and communion on Sunday. Mr. Rogers’ message, "Do This in Remembrance of Me," showed the significance of Christian celebrations.

"This was not just another conference," said Brad Rosenquist, assistant pastor of the Nashville, Tennessee, church. "That became more than just apparent by the middle of the first presentation by Ron Kelly. As he carefully laid out the shifts in responsibilities for finance to the local congregation, the future ministry of our local membership to the community around us unfolded before me.

"The implications for fulfilling the great commission took on monumental proportions. Suddenly our people were major decision makers and shakers in the kingdom of God. How we planned, strategized and prayed would now directly affect the impact of the gospel in our neighborhoods to the unchurched.

"As the two days progressed it became so obvious that God’s Spirit was opening vistas of responsibilities as never before. It was a wonderful series of spiritual eye-opening insights into evangelism and stewardship."

Mr. Rosenquist continued: "Each of us in our congregation, our small grouping of saints in Nashville, would be shown an open door of huge potential under the dutiful care of our own leadership, right here at home."

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2001