WCG defines goals for
2003 conferences and festivals

By Charles Albrecht

PASADENA—Festival coordinators met with Church Administration staff in Pasadena Feb. 7 and 8 to develop schedules and strategies for the 2003 festivals.

For the past two years the WCG has started off with a Summerfest family celebration. This year the "Life in the Son" festival will again lead things off in Atlanta, Georgia, July 16 to 20 and is followed by five U.S. festival celebrations as well as several festival tours.

According to Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers: "Church Administration is now emphasizing that our festivals are designed to be building events, that is, events that build believers in Christ-likeness. Building events are structured to help believers enhance their relationship with Christ through a balanced program of prayer time, inspiring worship, Bible study and fellowship."

Church festivals have traditionally been a time for worship services and fellowship opportunities in settings larger than is possible in most congregations. Further, these festivals have also been able to sponsor seminars and other family events.

Each festival site this year will have a theme unique to that site. President Joseph Tkach will announce the site themes in the festival registration letter to be mailed later in March. The festival letter will also include registration details and other information for the sites.

Church Administration has updated the schedule for the denominationally sponsored regional conferences. The primary purpose of a regional conference is different from that of a festival. While the festivals are designed as building events, the regional conferences are equipping events.

Equipping events provide training, resources and educational opportunities for Christians who are, or who desire to be, actively involved in ministry. The focus is on training and equipping Christian workers to be more effective in serving in the local church and in reaching the unchurched with the gospel. There will be worship, prayer, time in the Word, fellowship and lots of useful training on how to be a co-worker with God in the work he is doing.

The theme of this year’s regional conferences will be "Growing Healthy Churches." If members are unable to attend the conference in their own region but would still like to attend, they are encouraged to register for a conference in another region by contacting the coordinator of that conference.

Two intensive seminars will be a part of this year’s conferences. The first seminar, on Thursday and Friday, is "Growing a Healthy Church." It will challenge workers and leaders to create a strategy for their congregation that is effective in church growth and maintains balance in ministry programs. The second seminar, on Saturday afternoon, "The Everyday Commandment," will help Christians realize that the motivation for living and sharing the gospel is the love of God. It will also explain how individual Christians, families, small groups and whole congregations can conduct effective outreach events to share the gospel and God’s love with the unchurched.

This year’s conferences will begin on Thursday afternoon and run through midday on Sunday. According to Mr. Rogers: "We recognize that many members may not be able to arrive at the conference until Friday evening. With that in mind, we have structured the conference so that people can arrive Friday evening and still receive a complete conference package.

"We just felt we needed a bit more time with pastors and ministry leaders, so we added Thursday to handle some of that information. On the weekend, Dr. Tkach will start things off as the keynote speaker Friday evening as we enter the plenary phase of the conference."

Dr. Tkach’s plenary session, "Loving Relationships," will be followed by a second plenary session on Saturday morning by Ted Johnston, Great Lakes district superintendent. Mr. Johnston will present "Building Youth Ministry." Mr. Johnston further commented: "We have created a track specifically for youth workers for this conference. The youth worker track will run Saturday morning and evening and into Sunday. This track should help in growing our youth ministries. We encourage all youth workers to attend."

Make plans now to participate in these events. Registration information for the festivals and conferences will be mailed directly to members, and as information becomes available it will also be posted on the denomination’s website at www.wcg.org If you have questions regarding any of these events, please contact the appropriate coordinator.

 
FESTIVAL COORDINATORS—Meeting Feb. 7 in the Hall of Administration in Pasadena are (counterclockwise from left) Doug Johannsen, Martin Manuel, Church Administration staff: Charles Albrecht, Nancy Akers, Susan Dick and Pat Shaw; Larry Dietrich, Joel Lillengreen, Allan Barr and Dan Bierer. Inset photo: Dan Rogers. [Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]

Festival dates, places & contacts

Date Location Coordinator e-mail

 

July 16-20 Atlanta, Georgia allan.barr@wcg.org

 

Sept. 18-21 Southern California larry.dietrich@wcg.org

 

Sept. 18-21 Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin doug.johannsen@wcg.org

 

Sept. 26-29 Lake George, New York

 

Oct. 8-12 Seaside, Oregon  

 

Oct. 10-13 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina martin.manuel@gci.org

Oct. 11-18 Eastern Caribbean john@travelgallery.com

 

Oct. 13-20 Mexican Riviera john@travelgallery.com

 

Oct. 12-19 Grand Canyon john@travelgallery.com

 

Oct. 9-17 Russia john@travelgallery.com

 

Conference dates, places and contacts

 

April 2-6 West Covina, California, curtis.may@gci.org

 

April 24-27 Portland, Oregon hank.lageman@wcg.org

 

May 29–June 1 Lexington, Kentucky ron.dick@wcg.org

 

June 26–29 Denver, Colorado tim.snyder@wcg.org

 

July 31–Aug. 3 Dallas, Texas arnold.clauson@wcg.org

 

Aug. 14–17 Chicago, Illinois richard.frankel@wcg.org

 

Nov. 6–9 Union, New Jersey john.adams@wcg.org

 

Dec. 4–7 Orlando, Florida robert.persky@wcg.org

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2003