“Moving People into Mercy Ministry” was the theme of the second conference on ministries of mercy, jointly sponsored by Christian Education & Publications and Mission to North America. The conference was held March 13-15, 2003 at the Atlanta Airport Marriott and offered a wide variety of speakers and workshops. 

Because of the connection and responsibilities of deacons in this area, there was a special focus on the deacon, as well as the godly women who assist them. Deacons from numerous PCA churches made up a substantial percentage of the 300-plus attendants at the conference. George Fuller has partnered with CE&P to help local churches mobilize deacons for ministry to and through the elderly. He called the conference “a great lift in multiplying ministries of mercy – an encouraging and focused program.” 

Harry L. Reeder, pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL, opened the conference by urging the audience as the body of Christ to combine “gospel words with gospel deeds.”

Steve Smallman, Jr., associate pastor of New Song Community Church in Baltimore, MD, led the worship throughout the conference. Others such as Mo Leveritt from New Orleans presented music as well. 

John Perkins, from Mendenhall, MS, well known to those involved in mercy ministry, spoke from his rich experience in community development. He said that the Bible was not only a devotional text, but also a guidebook for action.

Marvin Olasky, teacher, author, and editor of World Magazine, provided a concise analysis of different motivations for mercy ministry and their outcomes. Mike Campbell, pastor of the Pinelands PCA in Miami, FL, used Zechariah 7: 1-11 as his text for the closing plenary session to discover “what God really wants” concerning the church and mercy ministry. 

Throughout the conference, a variety of workshops covered many different topics such as; multi-ethnic worship, disability ministry, faith-based initiatives and funding, ministry to the divorced and separated, English as a second language, and mobilizing deacons for effective mercy ministries. Thirty-six workshops in all were held, all of them substantive. Participants were given tools to use in building mercy ministries in their churches. 

A number of mercy stories were shared throughout the plenary sessions, illustrating the gospel of grace. The conference was a practicum set in an environment that encouraged careful reflection on what individuals and congregations could do to demonstrate the reality of the gospel.

One participant reflected later, “We had five representatives attend the Mercy Ministry Conference and we all came away blessed in five different ways. I went with a heart for our congregation and how to administer a lifestyle of care for them, and came away with God enriching this need plus also showing me a different view of caring from a biblical sense of community.” 

At the close of the conference, CE&P Coordinator Charles Dunahoo and MNA Coordinator Jim Bland concurred that there would be another mercy conference planned for 2005.

From PCANews.com

  back to top

Annual Children's Ministry Conference

From April 29-May 1, 2003, more than one hundred and fifty people involved in children’s ministry in the PCA gathered in Atlanta, at the Simpsonwood Conference Center for the annual conference on Children’s ministry. The theme this year was “Our Theology is Our Mission.” Our theology, developed from Scripture and our historic Westminster Standards, is highly covenantal and involves immediate and extended families, including children. Like our adult ministries, our ministry to children should reflect our theology. That is what this conference is all about.

This was the fifth such conference sponsored by CE&P. Dr. Allan Curry, Professor of Christian Education at Reformed Theological Seminary and regional trainer/consultant for CE&P, served as the opening speaker. He stated, “Most agree to the importance of this ministry in local churches but do not make it a priority.” He challenged to participants to think about how God views children and the implications of His views. Some came to conference saying that they were ready to “call it quits” and consider other work, only to receive both a new challenge and vision to remain in that ministry.

CE&P coordinator Dr. Charles Dunahoo spoke on the importance of discipling the covenant children with the kingdom model. Developing a Christian world and life view for covenant children should begin at the child’s baptism. This is consistent with John Calvin’s notion that Christian education should officially begin at baptism. CE&P is committed to that wholistic view of Christian education and disciple making.

The third keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Palmer, coordinator of church ministries at CE&P. His topic was reaching the millennial generation, a key theme in Christian Education and Publications. As a result of the 2002 WIC Love Gift, CE&P was able to add Sue Jakes to the staff as coordinator of children’s ministries. Her first year anniversary, celebrated at the conference, has been a fruitful year. Sue has worked with numerous churches in training and consulting, meeting with children’s workers. She has assisted churches in filling local children’s ministry positions.

There were over a dozen seminars offered on various topics related to children’s ministries. Consultant Susan Hunt and her son Richie (a children’s ministry director) introduced and presented the new “Kids Quest” program they had written and developed. It is published by Great Commission Publications. Together, they demonstrated how to use the child’s catechism and puppets to teach children biblical truth.

One pastor said, “Every pastor of a small church needs a conference like this to challenge and encourage them.” Another participant who had attended the previous conferences stated that this was the best yet. He directs family ministries of a large PCA church. A children’s ministry director from a church of 1,000 plus members stated, “I am not going to quit after all but rather re-commit myself to that important covenantal ministry.”

Two manuals are in the planning stages at CE&P, and will be available within the next year. One will deal with the nuts and bolts of children’s ministry and the other will approach teaching children about worship. The participants applauded those announcements.

It was a conference of fun, challenge, instruction, plus a time to visit with other participants. CE&P is already planning the conference for next year through its staff and advisory sub-committee. Check the CE&P website for more information, as well as Equip for Ministry magazine.

 back to top