Five essential practices that are involved in making disciples for Jesus Christ.

Pre-conference opportunities at the 2007 Annual Conference
Tuesday, June 5th
Click here to register

One of the hopes of the planning committee for this year’s annual conference is that it will not only be a time for effectively conducting conference business, but also a time for learning, inspiring and celebrating the amazing things God is doing around Florida.

On Tuesday afternoon as delegates begin arriving in Lakeland for the 2007 Annual Conference, there will be five different opportunities for learning offered at 2:30 and then again at 4:30 PM. Each class will be about one of the five essential aspects of the core discipling-making process to which every congregation is called. Bishop Whitaker refers to these faith-forming practices as “The Methodist Way”. They have their roots both in our Wesleyan heritage and in the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. The pre-conference classes on “The Methodist Way” will give us a chance to focus on the core formative practices by which our faith is actually passed on “From Generation to Generation.”

The five essential practices are:

• Cultivating a congregation of passionate worshipers
• Engaging our community and the next generation in radical hospitality
• Forming mature apprentices of Jesus through deep and intentional discipling
• Picking up our crosses in salty service in our community and the world
• Pouring ourselves out in extravagant generosity

To read more about “The Methodist Way” click here

For a bulletin insert about this learning opportunity, click here

Every church can send as many persons as they wish to each of these classes – whether they are delegates of the Annual Conference or not. The classes are free. We invite you to register on-line at the conference website -- for our planning purposes -- but whether you have registered or not, we want you to come. You can take a class at 2:30 or at 4:30 or at both times.

In each class, you will hear briefly about all five essential practices in “The Methodist Way” and then the presenters will focus in on their particular topic. They will be sharing both a scriptural base for this practice and how this was a core practice when the Methodist movement swept across England and America. Then our presenters will be sharing a variety of practical ways in which this core practice can be strengthened in your local congregation. During each class, participants will be able to share what they are doing in this area with one another. Finally, you will receive a handout pointing you to some carefully selected books, websites and places you can learn more.

It is our goal for this to be the best quality learning opportunity you have ever attended, lead by some of the best practitioners and communicators in our Annual Conference. I promise you, this will be worth your time – the biggest challenge you will have is deciding which of the classes to attend.

“The Methodist Way”
Five essential practices that are involved in making disciples for Jesus Christ.
Pre-conference opportunities on Tuesday afternoon
Click here to register

The Five Sessions below are being offered simultaneously from:
2:30 – 4:00 pm and 4:30 – 6:00 pm
You may take a class at 2:30 or at 4:30 or at both times

	Cultivating a congregation of passionate worshipers – Rev. Scott Smith and Kalon Stiggins Scott is the founding pastor of Community of Faith UMC and Kalon is their worship leader. Kalon and Scott plan and lead worship for Community of Faith’s three different worship gatherings each weekend. As Scott says, “We have no money, no resources, and no building, but we’re passionate about transforming lives through worship. Our goal at Community of Faith is to create a worship experience where people encounter the Living God . . . and leave changed.”
	Extending radical hospitality to our community and the next generation – Rev. John Legg & Debbie VanOre John is the founding pastor of South Shore UMC, a mission of Sun City Center started in 2005.  Debbie is on staff as the Director of Congregational Development.  As a new church, the launch team has had to give particular attention to extending radical hospitality as an attitude that reaches far beyond Sunday morning strategies.  The congregation has shown significant growth in just one year and branded itself a church where people are welcomed just as they are.
	Forming persons in Christ through deep and intentional discipling – Rev. Jeff Henderson Jeff is the founding pastor of OakLeaf Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville, started in 2003. Because their congregation is reaching so many new persons for Christ, it has become essential for him to think through carefully how to help new believers mature in their faith. Beginning with individual discipleship and moving to large discipleship classes, Jeff’s emphasis is discipleship at every level of church life.
	Sending out into the community disciples as salty servants – Rev. David Moenning and Diane Hendricks David is the founding pastor of Pine Ridge Fellowship begun in 1997. One of the strengths of this congregation from its inception has been their commitment to help the people of their community to experience the love of God that changes lives. Diane is the director of children’s ministry at Pine Ridge, and is an example of one whose life was changed as a result of “salty servants” helping her to experience the love of God that changed her life.
	Pouring ourselves out in extravagant generosity – Rev. Tom Marston and Tom Wilkinson Florida United Methodist President Tom Marston and Vice-President Tom Wilkinson will help workshop participants understand that faithful, effective stewardship is a year-round process, integrally woven into the mission and ministry of the local church. Participants will leave with a biblical, Wesleyan understanding of comprehensive Christian stewardship as well as practical tools to take back to their congregations, emphasizing changing generational perspectives on stewardship. The Foundation is committed to helping develop excellent stewardship practices for congregations.

It has become axiomatic in organizational change literature that, “You can’t hit a target you can’t see.” As our connection of congregations increasingly seeks to improve the eroding effectiveness of our ministries among the people of Florida, it is important that we are crystal clear what “good ministry” means. Some say we have too long defined “success” institutionally – even bureaucratically: paying apportionments, showing up at district meetings and getting our completed forms in on time. Others have said that Christ’s mission is for us to “make disciples,” which is certainly better, but leaves most of us wondering what that really means. “The Methodist Way” with its five core practices is one practical way to describe what “making disciples” really looks like in action. It provides us with a much needed common language by which we can encourage and hold one another accountable for fulfilling our Kingdom potential, in hopes that one day Christ can greet each of us saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

As you prepare to attend the 2007 Annual Conference we hope you will make attending the Pre-conference learning opportunities part of your experience.

Pre-conference opportunities on Tuesday afternoon
Click here to register