“Where Encouragement and Fellowship Meet for Youth Workers and Spouses Across the PCA.” March 29^th through April 1^st, 2004 at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Alabama.

Christian Education and Publications, along with Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, desired to be used by the Lord to help youth workers and their spouses across the PCA to be encouraged in their call and to experience fellowship with other youth ministers. For that reason, they partnered to host the Barnabas Connection Retreat. The Barnabas Connection is a cooperative conference headed up by Rev. Mark Long from Oak Mountain Pres in Birmingham, AL. With a steering committee that has representation from all over the southeast, the Barnabas Connection is a grass roots response to Covenant Seminary’s YIMI Conference, which CE&P assisted with last year in Orlando.

The keynote speakers for this conference are Dr. Frank Barker, Pastor Emeritus from Briarwood Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Matt Brinkley from Perimeter Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Both men have great amounts of ministry experience in the PCA and have been used by the Lord in their teaching and writing to encourage and equip those under their care. Trevor Morgan, a strong worship leader and recording artist, will lead the worship during our times together at the conference.

In addition to the keynote speakers, there will be various seminars in the mornings that will cover a cross-section of youth ministry related topics. Some of the seminar leaders will be: Rev. Mark Long, “Preparing for and Leading Youth Missions Trips;” Rev. Richard Bailey from Plains Presbyterian in Louisiana, “Insurance and Legal Issues That Should Not be Ignored;” Rev. Dean Conkel from CE&P, “The Five Diamonds of Youth Ministry;” Rev. Andy Garner from Covenant Pres in Nashville, “A Balanced Approach to Christian Counseling for Youth;” Christine Dow from Oak Mountain, “Being a Woman Involved in Youth Ministry;” and T.C. Bailey, “Married to a Youth Worker.”

Plenty of time has been set aside for relaxed conversations with your spouse and/or friends, basketball, golf, hikes, touring NASCAR related places or simply having plenty of time for naps at the beautiful Shocco Springs Conference Center near Talladega, Alabama.

The CE&P Bookstore will have a table there with all kinds of books that will help the youth worker and spouse. They will also carry books recommended by the speakers and seminar leaders. The cost is $195.00 per person with a reduced rate for couples and for groups of three or more from the same church.