With the belief that counseling belongs to the Church, this seminar will assist the local Body in the structure and development of a Lay Counseling Ministry.
Hosting a Successful VBS
Lynda Ellison
This conference will take a look at the new Lifeway Vacation Bible School (VBS) materials for 2010.It will give an overview of the different options that the material affords as well as discussing ways to make VBS work for your church. (offered 2x)
“Hit the Road, Jack!”
Rachel Monroe
Get moving in the direction God wants you to go!Read HIS map. Determine HIS course.Don’t stall out and turn back! Overcome those road blocks that cause detours! Win the race!(Appropriate for all – topics involve vision, plans, strategies for success; class is reflective, interactive, and hands-on)
What is your plan?
Steve Melvin
Do you have a plan to make a spiritual impact in your community? This conference will help you think through how your life can impact others for Christ, and assist you in answering the question: "What will my life story be like when it is told?" some topics include: purpose, values, focus, direction, calling, action, and analysis.
God’s View of Sex(Parent Track)
Josh Bullard
God created humans as sexual beings. Do you know why we have sexual drives and why we should control them? (I Thess. 4:3-7) Why should we be ashamed to talk about something that God was not ashamed to create?
The Practice of Prayer
Rick Hartley
Conversation with God leads to knowing and understanding His heart for us and for others—the saved and the lost. In this session, we will examine Scriptural models for conversing with God and practical ideas of how to implement prayer into our daily lives in personal devotion, God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS), and corporate worship. Bring your ideas to share with others!
Campers On Mission
Randy Creamer
Come and learn about Campers on Mission; who can join COM, how to organize a state chapter, and what the benefits are for the members as well as those they serve.COM supports local churches and their ministries, impacts church planting efforts, and shares Christ with a community. No camper required to go and serve.
Presenting the Gospel to Millennials
Mark Lydecker
This session is designed to help us see through the lens that students use as they view Christianity and the Church.We will identify how students process the material they are taught and how to share the gospel in a manner that is compatible with their understanding and concerns. Two effective and distinct approaches will be offered as a means to present the gospel.
What God Wants the Church To Do... And How Sunday School and Small Groups Fit In
Sam Galloway
God’s Church ought to be doing what He wants. Do the smaller groupings of the congregation actually have a chance to be useful in God’s Plan? (The answer is yes, by the way!)
True Love Waits: Pure Power Part 1(Youth Breakout)
Ben Seamans
This is the first of a three part series combining principles from "True Love Waits" and "Designed for Purity" into an exciting experience that leads students to grasp the power of God available through living pure.
Friday Afternoon – March 19
1:15-2:30 pm
Biblical Basis of Teams
Clint Calvert
This session will explore the Scriptures that speak to the power of God working through His people. Practical applications will flow out of an exploration and understanding of biblical texts. A biblical foundation will provide a strong basis for cooperation in the local church.
Insuring Our Children for Faith
Randy Smith
How can parents and teachers pay the cost (premium) now and reap the benefits in hard times? What are the dividends of this policy? A look at Biblical instructions and personal challenges of caring for the children entrusted to us.
“Movin’ on Down!Movin’ on Down the Road….!”
Rachel Monroe
Get ready, set, GO!God has a spiritual route of adventure for all of us.Map out where you have been, where you are now, and where you are going.Spend time with God and get EXCITED about your adventure!!! (Appropriate for all – topics involve spiritual formation and growth, will develop a deeper understanding of ones relationship with God and how to continue driving closer together; class is reflective, interactive, and hands-on)
I Heard You were in the Hospital
Rich Williamson
When a family member, friend, or church member is in the hospital, what is the best way for the lay person or pastor to respond? This course will identify needs and issues patients face, and provide suggestions as to appropriate ways to meet these needs. If you’ve ever struggled with knowing how best to respond, this course is for you.
God’s View of Sexual Purity(Parent Track)
Josh Bullard
What is “sexual purity?” Is it just “virginity,” or is there more to it than that? What are God’s guidelines for sexual behavior?
Praying According to My Type: An Exploration of Prayer and Personality
Rick Hartley
The session will explore various types/forms of prayer (for example: conversational, silent, written, walking, and contemplative). Under the assumption that we are not all drawn to the same way of praying, participants will assess how God has “wired” them (I.e., personality types using an abbreviated Myers-Briggs evaluation). Prayer types will be categorized according to personality types for participants to discover what best fits them—and what may challenge them in their prayer life (repeated from Empower 2009).
Haiti - Respond and Rebuild
Randy Creamer
Find out how Southern Baptist volunteers are needed to assist in the long-term rebuilding efforts in Haiti. Skilled and unskilled volunteer teams will be needed. You will discover what is involved in recovery and rebuild ministries and what are the requirements for you to volunteer.
Transitioning Students To College
Mark Lydecker
Up to 70% of all church youth will leave the church by their first year of college and 91% of all 20 year old males will not attend church.Are they leaving the church or Christ? What can be done?This session will offer a practical hands on plan to assist youth in transitioning from high school to college without leaving their church relationship behind.
Practical Church Leadership and How it Affects Evangelism
Sam Galloway
An examination of “real world” church leadership and how it affects “real-time” evangelism. The conference leader has served in the local church as education minister and pastor and experienced the full range of leadership challenges. Bring your “what if” situations and we’ll analyze them for leadership suggestions.
True Love Waits: Pure Power Part 2(Youth Breakout)
Ben Seamans
This is the second of a three part series combining principles from "True Love Waits" and "Designed for Purity" into an exciting experience that leads students to grasp the power of God available through living pure.
Friday Afternoon – March 19
3:00-4:30 pm
Afternoon Bible Study with Dr. Roy Fish
Roy Fish
For many years Dr. Fish has conducted early morning Bible Studies at our Empower conference. This Bible Study will give everyone an opportunity to attend his Bible Study without having to rise so early.
How Far Can I Go? Maintaining Physical Purity (Parents and Youth)
Josh Bullard and Ben Seamans
We will discuss various perspectives that circumvent the most common question parents and teens have, “How far is too far?” Most students and parents as well ask this question. This session will be full of tasteful humor and discuss situations every teen will face and every parent would like to “redo”.
Saturday Morning – March 20
8:30-10:00 am
Introduction to Biblical Counseling
Ab Abercrombie
A brief (90 minute) introduction to biblical counseling and discipleship helping the Church to meet the biblical mandates of evangelism (Matt. 28:19) and restoration (Gal. 6:1-2)
Hosting a Successful VBS
Lynda Ellison
This conference will take a look at the new Lifeway Vacation Bible School (VBS) materials for 2010.It will give an overview of the different options that the material affords as well as discussing ways to make VBS work for your church.
“Baby, You Can Drive My Car”
Rachel Monroe
There is nothing like taking a trip together!Is there someone you would like to drive “Home”?!Be a chauffeur who is encouraging, providing guidance, and actually helps the driver arrive at the desired destination.(Appropriate for all – topics involve effectively guiding and mentoring others on their spiritual formation and growth road; will learn how faith develops, specific effective and “off the road” ways to “drive them Home”; class is reflective, interactive, and hands-on)
Involving Southern Baptists in Disaster Relief
Jeanne Wedekind
From its very modest beginnings to the well-developed organization of today, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief continues to touch the lives of thousands of disaster victims and volunteers.This is the first basic training course required to become a MWBC Disaster Relief trained volunteer for any of our units.
Physical Purity: Control Your Body, & Emotional Purity: Guard Your Heart(Parent Track)
Josh Bullard
How do I teach my children to control their bodies and guard their hearts? Some practical guidelines to consider and to talk about with your children.
Intentional Spiritual Growth
Rick Hartley
Peter tells us to “make every effort” to grow in our walk with the Lord to keep us from being “ineffective and unproductive” in our knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 1:5-8). Spiritual growth rarely “just happens!” We must intentionally engage in spiritual disciplines. This breakout session will explore how we can develop useful plans of action for our individual spiritual growth as we work out the salvation God has worked in us (Phil. 2:12-13).
Baptist Builders
Randy Creamer
Come and discover how Baptist Builders assist local congregations with their construction needs. This may include some or all of the planning, construction, and occupancy phases.MN-WI Baptists can organize a state chapter serving our churches as well as nationwide serving as a skilled and unskilled volunteers.
Student Ministry That Transforms The Church
Mark Lydecker
Most churches blame youth pastors for failure to keep youth interested in church while most church staff blame such failure on poor parenting.Regardless of who we blame, our youth need role models that work together to offer a vibrant Christian faith.This session will help you to understand how redemptive relationships in a church community can be used to effectively transform a youth ministry and church.
Jesus on Evangelism... Luke 5
Sam Galloway
What exactly does Jesus mean by calling us “Fishers of Men”?
True Love Waits: Pure Power Part 3
Ben Seamans
This is the third of a three part series combining principles from "True Love Waits" and "Designed for Purity" into an exciting experience that leads students to grasp the power of God available through living pure.
