There are several upcoming events in the bay area for those that are interested in exercising their evangelism muscles. Some of those muscles may be stretched for the first time, others have been stretching them for years. But isn’t January the month that we get out those workout clothes and head for the gym to exercise our physical bodies that have gotten flabby?
How about we head to a spiritual gym (like a conference or one of our outreach oriented churches) to get back into shape for outreach in the new year??? Here are several opportunities to not only be reminded of the GREAT COMMISSION, but to equip you with tools on how to effectively share your faith:
1. Conversational Evangelism Conference: **** NOTE: Early-Bird rates through today, Jan. 18th!*****
(if you sign up today through Seeker Small Groups, we can get the lowest group rate of $129. Students can attend for $79 early bird rate. There’s also an option for just Saturday at $79. Contact me directly by e-mail and I’ll give you the details for all of these.) Registration and Details at www.conversationalevangelism.net
Also, we need prayer warriors for this conference. If you are interested in praying for the CEC in the upcoming weeks and pray during the conference with those that are in need of prayer, you can obtain a very low rate.
Where: Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Menlo Park, CA.
When: Feb. 29 – Mar.1
Learn how to develop skills for effective evangelism in this contemporary culture. It’s all about the conversations we have with our unchurched friends, neighbors, families, and co-workers. We all know how to NOT do it, through personal mistakes and well-intended attempts. But here is a conference that explains the power of listening, healthy productive conversations, and sincerely guiding someone on their own spiritual journey of discovery.
Todd Hunter, National Director of Alpha USA, will be joined John Ortberg, Becky Pippert, Mark Mittelberg, Dan Kimball , Richard Peace and Garry Poole; as well as networking with other like-minded people, worship and prayer.
* Todd will help us understand what is going on in our rapidly changing culture
* Dan will help us contextualize the unchanged message of God’s love to young adults
* Richard will equip us to engage in easy and comfortable conversation about the good news of Jesus.
* John will help us learn how spiritually connect with our Father’s heart
* Mark will give us strategies for helping every part of the church develop an evangelistic edge
* Becky will inspire us to become the kind of people who naturally and easily attract seekers, and will teach us about “Seeker Bible Studies”.
* Garry will give us excellent training on how to invite seekers, and how best to facilitate Alpha groups and Seeker Small Groups
* The Alpha Team – will present Alpha to Conference delegates in a fun, exciting way.
How can you make the most of this Conference?
1. Be sure your pastors and leaders know about this Conference. They may already be familiar with these speakers and their books.
2. Don’t come alone – bring a team. These ministries teach a “team approach” to evangelism. It takes a community to reach seekers in our world today. Your team will be learning how each part of the church can make its own particular contribution; according to the gifts each person has been given.
3. Plan to put into action those things you learn at the conference.
2. Lee Strobel at the Cathedral of Faith in San Jose, this Sunday Jan. 20
They have 4 services. The Sat night 5 pm service will show The Case for Christ Movie, which I recommend you go to and take a skeptical guest with you. Their Sunday services are at 8:30, 10 & 11:30 a.m and Lee will be speaking at all of them. Again I recommend you take a skeptical guest with you. Please pass this message on to others, and do consider inviting a skeptical friend. I'm not sure what Lee's topic will be, but it most probably will be the topic of his latest book: i.e. The Case for the Real Jesus. Their website is: http://www.cathedraloffaith. org/ Address: 2315 Canoas Garden Ave., San Jose, CA 95125
3. Veritas Forum at Stanford University on Tuesday, Feb. 5
Check out details at http://www.veritas.org/stanford. Here’s some of the basic facts taken directly from the website: “The Veritas Forum is a co-sponsor of the Francis Collins lecture at Stanford, an event which is sponsored on campus by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship.
This event is an opportunity for the entire university community to explore and discuss life's hardest questions together. By asking the pressing questions on campus and answering them with respected university voices, we hope to engage the entire university in fruitful discussion.
The planners of the forum are inspired by the idea that Jesus Christ has something relevant to offer our modern university in its search for knowledge, truth and significance. We welcome and honor skeptics and their questions, and even bring some of our own. The Forum is not meant to be a typical academic exchange of abstract and unembodied ideas. Rather, it should come out of real community earnestly exploring questions of real importance.
We have invited presenters who have wrestled with our questions to challenge us, connect disconnected ideas, and put forth their answers and objections in light of our beliefs and doubts. We believe the events will draw participants into real conversations, questions, discussions, stories, and friendships.”
God and the Genome
7:30pm. Memorial Auditorium
Francis Collins (Author—The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Director—National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH.)
Well, I hope these are events that can encourage you and exercise those important spiritual muscles! May God bless your efforts to spread His good news to the 93% of the folks in the bay area who are outside our church doors. Grateful for the privilege of working with you. -Mary
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