2003 Children’s Ministry Conference 

Our Theology is Our Ministry – Developing PROactive Children’s Ministries

Over the last four years, the PCA Children’s Ministry Conference has become a great retreat and training time for all those working with children in our denomination. This year will be our best conference yet.

Here is a special invitation for all PCA pastors. Please encourage your pastor to attend. Three of the most gifted theologians in the church today, Dr. Allen Curry, Dr. Charles Dunahoo, and Dr. Robert Palmer, will be teaching us on the covenant and how our theology mandates the training of our children as a priority for families and churches. There will be over thirty workshops on making this training practical and purposeful for all ages of children and all sizes of churches. Great Commission Publications will introduce a new catechism curriculum, KID’S QUEST. You do not want to miss this conference! 

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CE&P and CSI Hosts Conference on Christian Schools

CE&P and Christian Schools International sent surveys to over three hundred Christian schools related to the PCA. Participants from some of those schools will convene to discuss topics related to school operations at the Simpsonwood Conference Center on January 28-30, 2003 for the Model School Governance Conference. The PCA’s Christian Education and Publications Committee and Christian Schools International will sponsor the conference. The target audience includes headmasters or those who serve in that role, board chairmen, and pastors and space is limited.

School governance will be one of the main topics for the event. Mr. Olan Hendrix, no stranger to those in the Christian school movement, is an expert on effective board structure and strategy and will be the keynote speaker. Christian Schools International, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an organization committed to education from a biblically reformed perspective. They have come alongside schools and interested groups in the PCA to give assistance in establishing schools and developing curriculum. The PCA has about forty schools affiliated with CSI; however, according to CE&P coordinator Charles Dunahoo, “the conference is not a CSI event. Invitations have been extended to schools with other or no official affiliation.” Dunahoo further states “our objectives for the conference are several; particularly, to encourage those involved in the education of our covenant children, to get to know others involved in that ministry and to consider ways that the PCA, through its CE&P Committee and college, can better serve those involved on a day to day basis.”

Registration cards and a letter of invitation have been mailed. Those desiring to participate can register online at CE&P’s website, www.pcanet.org/cep. Rachel Ginzberg of the CE&P staff is the registrar for the conference and can be reached at rginzberg@pcanet.org.

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 WIC Leadership Training Seminar

Christian Education and Publications takes very seriously the challenge to equip the church for ministry. Each spring, women from across the PCA come to Atlanta for the by-invitation Leadership Training Seminar. At this event PresWIC leadership and directors of women’s ministries are equipped with the tools for transferable training for local WIC leadership. Networking, regional fellowship and practical hands-on workshops are used to meet the goal of teaching women to think covenantally and to take up their corporate helper role in the local church, presbytery and denomination.

This year's Leadership Training Seminar will precede the second PCA Mercy Conference at the Airport Marriott on Tuesday, March 11 - Thursday, March 13, 2003. Look for your brochures soon or go to the CE&P website (www.pcanet.org/cep) for further information.

Dr. Allen Curry, professor of Christian Education at Reformed Theological Seminary and regional trainer for CE&P, will speak on “Tools for Teaching and Living Covenantally.” Jo Ann White, director of Women's Ministries at Coral Ridge PCA in Fort Lauderdale, FL, will lead a discussion on evaluating and selecting Bible study materials. Tara Barthal, who most recently served as director of the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker Ministries, will speak on conflict resolution.

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MOVING PEOPLE TO MERCY MINISTRY

March 13-15, 2003

Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel

Christian Education and Publications has again partnered with Mission to North America to put together a mercy ministry conference. PCA churches across the country have awakened in new and often exciting ways to touch the lives of those who hurt. This gathering will attempt to take our church a step further with practical seminars on subjects ranging from separation and divorce to racial reconciliation; from welfare to work to dealing with those who are disabled.

Plenary speakers include Harry Reeder, pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church; John Perkins, a powerful voice for racial reconciliation, indigenous leadership and community development; Mike Campbell, pastor of Pinelands Presbyterian Church and Marvin Olasky, editor in chief of World Magazine.

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YOWAW

FEB 14^TH-17^TH, 2002, RIDGE HAVEN, NC 

YOWAW, which is short for the Youth World Awareness Weekend, is a special kind of conference held annually for PCA high school students and friends across the country each February. The conference starts on Friday night Feb. 14^th and finishes after the morning session on Monday, Feb 17^th. YOWAW is a part spiritual-life conference, part missions conference set at the beautiful conference center of Ridge Haven, the PCA’s camp and conference center. While there is strong teaching throughout the time at Ridge Haven, stressing a Christian worldview and missions, there is outrageous fun throughout the extended weekend as well.  

This year’s speakers and musician are set to provide strong spiritual challenges as well as music that will help students and leaders alike worship the Lord Jesus Christ with sincerity. Dr. Henry Krabbendam from Covenant College and Rev. Mark Long from Independent Presbyterian in Memphis, TN are the main session speakers for the weekend. Trevor Morgan will provide music and worship leadership to help bring people before the Lord in worship.

 A unique aspect of YOWAW is the cooperative nature of the conference. While hosted by Ridge Haven, several other committees help prayerfully plan, organize and participate before, during and after the conference. Christian Education and Publications, Missions to the World and Missions to North America all come together with Ridge Haven to put on a truly world-class, kingdom-changing conference.

 YOWAW: The Unique High School Conference with the Unique Name.

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Mark your calendars: Upcoming conferences

Conference Schedule

 2003

Christian School Conference
Atlanta, GA
Jan 27-29, 2003

WIC Leadership Training Seminar
Atlanta, Georgia
March 11-13, 2003

Mercy Ministry Conference
Atlanta, Georgia
March 13-15, 2003

Racial Reconciliation
Fayetteville, GA
March 28-29, 2003

Children’s Ministry Conference
Atlanta, Georgia
April 29-May 1, 2003

Willow Grove (Philadelphia), PA
October 23, 2003

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