Ministers and members meet
for Dallas regional conference

By Arnold Clauson
Conference coordinator

DALLAS, Texas—Ministers and members from the South Central and Central districts met for a regional conference Aug. 6 to 8.

The conference ended with a worship service and communion attended by 437 people.

During that service, Pastor General Joseph Tkach presented an inspiring message on the significance of Mary’s song of rejoicing from Luke 1:46-52. Dr. Tkach said: “Mary was blessed above all by being selected to carry the Son of God into the world. A song based on her response to this honor is called the ‘Magnificat.’”

Dr. Tkach continued by asking: “What song is in our heart?”

After Dr. Tkach’s message, Carn Catherwood, district superintendent, led a communion service. Then Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, sent us forth as “workers to the harvest.”

Hands-on training

Ministers and members ex­pressed appreciation for the hands-on training, preparing us to go out into the harvest. Not only did attendees receive information in the main sessions, but they were able to practice it in breakout groups that gave everyone an opportunity to implement the ideas presented by Rogers.

The final part of Rogers’ presentation was a taste of a Concert of Prayer. The groups were led through a series of subjects for prayer and concluded by joining Rogers as he began softly singing “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.”

New financial model

Breakout sessions on financial management helped prepare congregations in local processing of contributions. Treasurers and financial teams took part in sessions conducted by Ronald Kelly, Robert Meade and Charles Albrecht of the WCG, and Mark Vincent of the Christian Stewardship Association.

This was the first year of opening the conference to vendors for displaying and educating our attendees on useful tools for ministry. 

In addition to the Church Administration booth that sets up each year, we invited the Center for Church Based Training, Family Life Ministries, Design for Ministry, the Bengali Evangelistic Association, the Office of Reconciliation Ministries and Christian Book Distributors. 

Additionally, we had a large area devoted to youth ministry and Crosswalk camps for youths. The vendors provided more than 100 door prizes to attendees, ranging from books to CDs to free passes to conferences.

Show of thanks

Finally, we offered a public appreciation to our host hotel, the Omni Park West. Their staff has served us in 15 different conferences over the past five years, and each year they are more accommodating than the previous.

They were the host hotel during our 2001 conference Sept. 7 to 9, and for the follow-up reconciliation conference Sept. 9 to 11. Many of us were there as the tragedy of 9-11 unfolded. They graciously brought a television into our meeting room so we could be kept apprised of that momentous day.

Curtis May, director of Reconciliation Ministries, and various pastors were unable to leave Dallas because of flight cancellations, so the Omni hosted their stay until flights resumed.

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2004