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In 1999, Christian
Education and Publications hosted a PCA Women In the Church
Conference on mercy. Dr. Charles Dunahoo welcomed the 4000
participants to this strategic conference with these words: "In
these days when many accuse the church of lacking authenticity and
integrity, and the younger generation questions the church’s
validity, we must show that the church is real and that a
relationship with Christ and his people is vital for serving
Christ’s purpose."
The conference was a
call to daughters of the covenant to love God and to be women of
compassion who love justice, mercy, and humility. There was a
strong commitment to work alongside of the men of the PCA in:
- casting a vision for mercy
ministry.
- teaching and equipping
congregations to extend their borders by ministering to the
strangers and aliens, the oppressed and needy.
- developing an integrated
approach to ministry so that mercy permeates the entire church
and becomes not just a program, but a way of life for the people
of God.
The offering taken at
the 1999 Women In the Church Conference became the seed money for
the committees on Christian Education and Publications and Mission
to North America to host ongoing denominational conferences on
mercy. The first one was in 2001 and others followed in 2003 and
2005.
In 2007, the Women In
the Church once again will join their annual Leadership Training
Conference to the purposes of the denominational Mercy Conference
(as was done in 2001 and 2003). The two events will be held
jointly, April 20-22 in Atlanta, Ga. The timing of this joint
training is quite significant, said Jane Patete, Women’s
Ministries Coordinator, "The respective purposes of both events
are complementary and work together with CE&P’s ongoing mandate
of training leadership men and women. It also builds upon the
themes and equipping of the 2006 Women In the Church Conference."
Plan now to attend
this kingdom training. Start now promoting it within your local
church. You will be challenged and equipped to live out the
requirements of biblical faith and to pass on the richness of the
reformed tradition to the next generation.
For more information,
go online to
www.pcacep.org/wic/leadership07.htm. You will see full details
on purpose, schedule, speakers, and workshops and registration
procedure.
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2007 Mercy
Ministry Conference
Enriching the Kingdom
"Enriching the
Kingdom: People Hurt, God Calls, Church Responds," is the
theme of this year’s bi-annual Mercy Ministry conference. This
conference is sponsored by CE&P and Mission to North America
and will be held April 20-22, in conjunction with the Women In
the Church Leadership Training conference (see related
article).
Bob Edmiston,
consultant for CE&P, will lead the conference. Keynote
speakers include: Phil Ryken, pastor of Tenth Presbyterian in
Philadelphia; Diane Langberg, a practicing psychologist from
Philadelphia; Randy Nabors, pastor of New City Fellowship in
Chattanooga; and March and Mariam Bell. March is the Senior
Trafficking Counselor for the U.S. Department of Justice and
Mariam is the Director of Public Policy for the Wilberforce
Forum, a division of Prison Fellowship.
Workshop topics
will include: Poised to respond to disaster relief,
ministering to special needs families, diaconal leadership in
mercy ministries, ABCs of community ministry, mobilizing
deacons, and comfort for the grieving. See the CE&P website
for more information. The conference will be held at the Crown
Plaza Hotel in Atlanta. Online registrations and other details
can be found at
www.pcacep.org/mercy
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First
Quarter 2007
