Workshops at General Assembly

For all who plan to attend the International General Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy in August, we invite you to make plans now to attend the following workshop sponsored by Family Ministries. How Should the Church Respond to Homosexuals? Dr. Alan Chambers Thursday, August 24, 2006 from 2:00 - 3:15 pm in the Renaissance Ballroom West

As Christians, many of us know what scripture says about homosexuality. The real challenge comes when we are face-to-face with a person who is involved in homosexuality. The question is, How will we respond? How does the church remain Christ-like in an ungodly world? How do we speak truth in love to the homosexual community? Ideally, if someone wanted to know how Christ felt about homosexuality and homosexual people all they would need to do is look at the Church's reaction. Our mandate is to be like Jesus, full of grace and truth. Join Dr. Alan Chambers as he gives clear, biblical direction for how to respond in a balanced and Christ-like manner to those affected by homosexuality.We encourage every pastor, leader, and member to attend this workshop so that we as the body of Christ can all capture the compassionate heart of Jesus on this important and timely issue. Dr. Alan Chambers is President of Exodus International Ministries, which is the world's leading network dedicated to proclaiming to, educating, and equipping the world with the biblical truth that freedom from homosexuality is possible when Jesus Christ is Lord of your life. Alan is one of Christianity's foremost spokesmen on this critical topic. He has been published in several well-known secular and religious magazines, has contributed to various books, and has been featured in many national media venues. Alan and his wife, Leslie, make their home in Orlando, FL and were recently blessed with their second adopted child.

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For all who plan to attend the International General Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy in August, we invite you to make plans now to attend the following workshop sponsored by Leadership Development Ministries.Rediscovering Relational Ministry in the Local Church Dr. David FergusonThursday, August 24, 2006 from 3:30 - 4:45 pm in the Renaissance Ballroom WestThe Bible is full of evidence that relationships lie at the heart of God's purposes for mankind. This workshop will explore the challenge of recapturing the identity of the first-century church by examining three basic areas of ministry – theology, discipleship, and leadership – and redefining them in terms of relationships.The first challenge is to recover a biblically-based relational mindset. This calls for a reevaluation of some of the major elements of Christian theology and asserts that all of these can only be properly understood within the context of loving relationships with God and one another. The second challenge is that genuine discipleship does not result from following a strict regimen of self-imposed spiritual disciplines, but rather grows out of a deep abiding relationship with the One who calls us to Himself, as we pursue a deeper understanding of His eternal Word, and as we build genuine, loving relationships with His people. The final challenge centers on the leadership style of Jesus, who led through caring, connected relationships rather than positional power, personal charisma, and formal influence. It raises a clear call for leaders in today's church to reject positional leadership and embrace relational leadership in accordance with Jesus' example. In this workshop you will also be introduced to the new relational ministry curriculum developed jointly by the Center for Biblical Leadership and Intimate Life Ministries. We encourage every pastor, leader, and member to attend this workshop on relational ministry so that we might all recapture the reality of what it means to be the body of Christ in the twenty-first century. Dr. David Ferguson, founder of Intimate Life Ministries, has a deep passion to challenge the church today with the understanding that relational ministry occurs when Great Commandment love empowers a Great Commission lifestyle. He and his wife Teresa have shared a Biblical message of health and relevance for more than twenty-five years. Their passion for seeing the Great Commandment lived out among God's people has led them to impact thousands of ministers and laity. As co-directors of Intimate Life Ministries, they direct a team which serves more than 35,000 churches in the United States and abroad with training and resources.