Expo at Annual Conference to highlight ‘how-to’ of evangelism

"Let’s Get Growing!" is the theme of the 2007 Annual Conference and of a major new event during this year’s conference in Roanoke.

Many churches want to grow, but don’t know how to do it. The "Let’s Get Growing Expo," a two-day event during conference, will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 12-13, in the spacious new Special Events Center at the Roanoke Civic Center.

The event will provide training and resources from a variety of groups from all over the region and the country. Representatives of groups with expertise in building up the church will share with participants in conversation, open forums, and with take-home materials. Although the Expo will be open throughout the day, special events and open forums are planned around meal and break times, so that individuals may eat and snack while they browse and learn and make important contacts.

Pastors and laity alike will come away energized for the work of reaching out, with more tools and knowledge about the how-to's of evangelism and marketing the church.

Two aspects of reaching out, marketing and personal evangelism, are critical in today’s church atmosphere and both will be addressed extensively. Topics will include community demographics, friendship evangelism, authentic evangelism, welcoming, Igniting Ministry, church growth and development, and building to make room for newcomers. The exact list of vendors is not yet available.

The Board of Communications again plans to offer free door-hangers for local church use on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mike Slaughter

The event is co-sponsored by the Division of Evangelism of the Board of Discipleship and the Board of Communications. The planning team, consisting of members of both boards, is seeking Virginia Conference churches that have reached out effectively to their communities. In order to assist a variety of church sizes, small-, medium-, and large-membership churches will share their stories and their resources. If you would like to nominate a church for inclusion in the event, please e-mail either of the co-chairpersons of the planning team (Doug Paysour at  paysour@rbnet.com or Stan Hargraves at SHargraves@union-psce.edu).

Tuesday night at Annual Conference will also focus on evangelism. The featured preacher will be Michael Slaughter, pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, Ohio, which has experienced enormous growth and is a teaching center for church life and development. Watch for further details in your conference information and packets. Even if you are not a member of conference, you are invited to participate in the "Let’s Get Growing Expo."