Access, the national conference for the Charis Fellowship, kicks off in Winona Lake, Ind., today. The conference is taking place at Grace College, with the celebrations happening in the Orthopedic Capital Center and meals in the newly renovated Alpha Dining Hall.
Thursday afternoon early arrivers had the option to participate in the Charis Symposium. This is the second year for the Charis Symposium to meet at conference to continue its conversation on gender and sexuality as it strives to help develop theological and pastoral implications.
Following the Symposium, Momentum Ministry Partners hosted a kick-off party with food, Kona Ice truck, bounce houses, music, and other family-friendly activities.
Friday morning Assist Church Expansion sponsored a breakfast where they shared updates about their growing initiative for helping more churches grow healthier and become reproducing, church-planting churches. Mark Artrip gave an overview of the church planting effort and church planters shared progress updates, Bart Blair shared information on church revitalization, Dan O’Deens and Scott Feather shared church planting processes, and Nathan Bryant shared updates about the organization.
Dan Allan, pastor of ministry development at Grace Church in Ashland, Ohio, spoke at the morning session on the foundation for biblical relationships. “Jesus loves me, this I know…the starting point for my relational life has to start here.” He reminded attendees that nobody loves us like Jesus, nobody sticks with us like Jesus, and nobody satisfies me like Jesus.
Rich Davies from Grace Church in Akron, Ohio, lead worship.
Attendees participated in a variety of workshops on topics such as healthy relationships for pastors’ wives, developing next generation leaders, sexual brokenness, God’s calling on grandparents, and more.
Follow along with photos from Access conference on our Facebook page here.
