On October 22, Ken Boa will come to the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove to speak to pastors about the importance of Christian community through a Pastors’ Institute, Let My People Grow: Spiritual Formation in the Microwave Age.
“There is a growing awareness to go from purely individual in our walk with Christ to community mindset. The body of believers are really starting to see that ‘it doesn’t end with me’,” said Boa. “We are seeing a greater emphasis on community and the desire to love and serve one another. People are longing for connectivity and relationships. I want to talk about how to get there.”
Boa will also talk about fundamental threats, such as self-centeredness, to building community. He will discuss the Apostle Paul’s address to the church at Corinth in regard to how they were hurting themselves through carnality, competition and comparison. “One of the major challenges we have is that we, as the church, miss out by focusing merely on building an institution,” said Boa. “We lose focus on loving Christ and building the body this way.”
Steve Brown will speak to church leadership and lay people
Steve Brown will hold a leadership forum, Learning to Lead Like the King from October 28-29 and a seminar, Church ‘R’ Us…Even If We’re Not Happy About It, from October 30-November 1. He has been passionate about the topic of the church, but his foray into this subject actually took him by surprise.
“I was speaking to the seminary student wives, who brought their husbands for the evening. When they introduced me. I said I loved the church,” said Brown. “Then I started talking, quite surprised at things at some of the same things I was saying. To summarize, I told them that Jesus loves everyone and expects us to love them too, even when we don’t agree with them doctrinally.”
Since that night, this topic has been a hot button where he lives.
“I pray for revival in America everyday of my life,” said Brown. “The key to revival is not about our faithfulness or the way we disciple. The key is for us to be known by our love for one another.”
Brown cites Billy Graham as one to emulate when loving others, despite differences. “The reason God honors Billy Graham is this incredible ability to reach out to people of all ends of the spectrum in the church.”
His advice to the church: “Quit talking about revival unless you’re willing to love those you disagree with.”
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. A wonderful way to honor your pastor is to present him with a gift certificate to the Cove to attend one of these events. Visit the Cove’s Web site to learn more.
