2nd Annual Church Planters’ Forum and Retreat Tuesday, June 30 9:00-12:00 1:30 A. Find a room/campsite Get to know other church planters Relax by the creek, playground, or woods 12:00 Lunch 1:00 Welcome, Prayer, and Announcements Introduction of churches represented B. C. Workshops: Downtown or Suburbs? What factors to Consider. | Reuben Petersheim Foundational Principles for Church Planting | Chuck Pike- Boston, MA Bible Studies with the Unchurched- TBA 3:00 Break 3:30 General Assembly Lessons Learned from the ICoC Experience of Planting Churches. – Chuck Pike 1:30 American Church Planting Demographics Ernest Eby, State College, PA 2:45 Break 5:00 Supper 3:15 Why Some Church Plants Falter Allen Roth- New York City 7:00 5:00 Supper General Assembly Church Planting – Calling and Rewards – Allen Roth 7:00 General Assembly Relating to Individuals & Churches Who Do Not Have the Two Kingdom Concept Finny Kuruvilla- Boston, MA Thursday, July 2 7:30 8:30 Breakfast Prayer Meeting: Prayer for more churches 9:00 General Assembly Worship and Song Announcements Wednesday, July 1 7:30 8:30 Breakfast Prayer Meeting: Prayer for more Laborers 9:15 Panel Discussion with Experienced Church Planters 9:00 General Assembly Worship and Song Announcements 10:45 Going the Distance in Church Planting – Allen Roth 9:30 June 30 – July 2, 2015 A. Penn Valley Christian Retreat B. McVeytown, PA C. 11:30 Workshops: Starting and operating a Christian Day School in the City Reuben Petersheim- Baltimore, MD Apprenticing Men for Leadership in the Church. | Allen Roth The Church Planting Wife – Carolyn Roth Lunch 11:45 Dismissal 12:00 Lunch Feel free to relax and visit on the property until 4:00 P.M. Purpose and Goals General Assembly Descriptions Workshop Descriptions Church Planters’ Forum and Retreat To provide a forum for Kingdom Christians to strengthen a vision for indigenous church planting that includes planting churches in or near North American cities. To provide a setting for church planters to learn from each other and avoid pitfalls common to this work in God’s Kingdom. To provide an atmosphere that will support church planters who are experiencing burnout or disappointment. To develop relationships among church planters that will discourage suspicion and competition. To provide a non-urban retreat for urban workers and families. What kind of church planting is in focus? “Establishing churches with the intention that numerical growth will come from evangelizing and discipling local people, particularly the unchurched.” Who is invited? Those actively involved in church planting and those preparing their hearts and minds for long-term church planting work are welcome to attend. Request from the Planning Committee: Those planning this Church Planters’ Forum and Retreat intend to promote an atmosphere that respects the roles of church authority, practical applications to scripture, disciplined church life, and brotherhood accountability. Anyone whose concept of church does not include these ingredients is asked to defer to those who do hold these convictions. Fees/Costs Meals average $7 per adult per meal. Motel style lodging is $22.50/adult/night if there are at least two people per room. Linens and towels provided. Children, 4-10 are half price – Children, 1-3 are free. Campsites (tent or RV): $15/site/night Offerings will be taken for speaker reimbursement. For questions about food & lodging or to register for this event, contact: Penn Valley Christian Retreat 7980 Ferguson Valley Road McVeytown, PA 17051 717-899-5000 | [email protected] Church Planting Demographics What types of people could or should attend your church? Are you prepared for them? Why Some Church Plants Falter What are some common hurdles/misconceptions inherent to church planting? What are some common reasons why indigenous church plant efforts flounder or even die out? Relating to Individuals & Churches Who Do Not Have the Two Kingdom Concept It is arrogant to assume we are the only Christians in the region and to only interact with Christians from our own church. So how do we constructively interact with those who share our faith, but not our core values? Lessons Learned from the ICoC Experience of Planting Churches. Within a 20 year period, the International Churches of Christ (ICoC) grew from a handful of disciples in the US to over 100,000 members in over 150 countries around the world. The group is noted for ambitious urban church planting, ethnic diversity, radical discipleship, campus outreach and relationship evangelism. Chuck will share from his own experiences in ICoC churches and plantings: what was effective, what was not, as well as lessons for kingdom Christians. Church Planting – Calling and Rewards Who should plant churches? When should a person plant a church? What rewards can a church planter anticipate? Panel Discussion with Veteran Church Planters Someone has said, “Get experience as cheap as you can.” At this session, panel members will give a public response to your questions. You are also welcome to ask questions and get advice from panel members at any time during the retreat. Starting and Operating a Christian Day School in the City Should unchurched and church families start out the first year together? How is starting an urban school different from a rural Christian Day School? How can a Christian school assist a church plant? Apprenticing Men for Leadership in the Church Indigenous church planting includes ordaining local men to shepherd the church. How can a church planter help prepare men in the congregation for leadership roles? The Church Planting Wife Wives of church planters not only need to survive but thrive. Learn from a sister who has navigated a wide variety of experiences. Downtown or Suburbs? What Factors to Consider Cities are where the people are. Yet many families from rural areas face challenges living in the city that they were not prepared for. What can be learned in advance? Foundational Principles for Church Planting This workshop will focus on practical, foundational principles for starting new churches. Topics will include knowing and using the Bible, staying unified, confessing/addressing sin among mission team members and new disciples, preaching a kingdom message and having close discipling relationships. Bible Studies with the Unchurched What methods of studying the Bible work better than others when Christians attempt to disciple the unchurched and the partially churched? How does a church planter conduct a Bible study so that the most sincere are able to benefit from the study? How does a church planter keep the most talkative from domineering the discussion? And more… Going the Distance in Church Planting How long will it take? Do I have what it takes? Planting churches requires persevering till the church is established. This session will attempt to encourage church planters to endure till the goal is reached: a new church being planted. For questions about the program or about who is invited, contact: Coordinator: Ernest Eby | 814-325-7898 [email protected] Asst. Coordinator: Gary Kauffman | 478-235-5615 [email protected]
© Copyright 2024