Loading...Discard any negative associations you may have of evangelism or evangelists, and register for the upcoming Magnetic Church Conference with Andrew D. Weeks. Sponsored by the Diocese of Kentucky, the conference will introduce church staffs and volunteers to practical ways to welcome new people and retain members.
A cradle Anglican, Andrew Weeks is a gifted lay evangelist and humorous, inspiring speaker. He has taken his ministry to more than 135 Episcopal sponsors, over 85 sponsors with the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A. churches and many other mainline denominations throughout all regions in the U.S. He is the author of Welcome! Tools and Techniques for new Member Ministry, published by The Alban Institute.
The conference, to be held March 13 and 14 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Louisville, will offer insight into proven, non-confrontational, practical evangelism. Weeks invites everyone, especially skeptics, to attend the opening evening session when he will focus on spiritual issues to help us overcome our many negative images of evangelism. Significantly, he invites participants into new creative ministries, not to urge them to take on more tasks. He challenges and encourages them to explore opportunities, leaving aside the old "should's, must's and ought's." He will review the pitfalls, frustrations and misdirection he has seen, then offer new insights on how each one of us can move forward.
On the second day, he will lead interactive sessions on "Presenting Your Church to the Public" (Signs, Property and Media) and "Managing New Member Ministry Processes," and sessions with small group workshops on "The Ministry of Greeting" and "Communications/Internal Media." Participants will get scores of practical ideas that can be implemented immediately.
All individuals are invited, but each church is encouraged to send multiple members with many different interests (communications, property, hospitality, finance, greeters) so they may return home as more effective and diverse teams. Many churches, he reports, have found it very productive to bring their entire management group, often in combination with an after-event retreat.
Registration costs $45 a person or $30 a person, if prepaid and pre-registered in groups of four or more. The fee includes refreshments and Saturday's lunch. To register, complete a registration form, posted online; make checks payable to The Trustees and Council, The Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky; and mail the form and check to The Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, ATT: Magnetic Church Registration, 425 S. Second St., Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40202.
To learn more about Weeks' vision and ministry, visit www.magnetic-church.com.
