The national conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches meets this week in Atlanta, Ga. Beginning on Friday evening, July 26, the conference continues through July 31. Sessions will be held at the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel and Conference Center on the north side of Atlanta.
The week will be marked with challenging speakers such as David Flynn, who will present a dramatic presentation of the story of Adoniram Judson; Chip Sweney, Director of Unite! Atlanta; Randy Pope, Perimeter Church, Atlanta, who will speak on transformational leadership; Jason Haymaker, lead pastor at the Western Reserve Grace Church, Macedonia, Ohio, who will also speak on leadership; and Alfredo Abreu, National Ministry Partner, Encompass World Partners. Bob Fetterhoff, executive director – Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Wooster, Ohio, will preside over the meetings.
A new feature this year are the Learning Labs held on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, that will provide practical ideas for outreach in local churches. Topics range from urban ministry and a model church to business as mission and reaching out to refugees.
At Wednesday’s business meeting for the FGBC, delegates from Grace Brethren congregations will vote on regional representatives to the Fellowship Council, the advisory board for the fellowship. Nominated from the East Region are (with their district and church listed): Dennis Fay, Chesapeake, Waldorf, Md., Grace Brethren Church; Mark Lingenfelter, Western Pennsylvania, Leamersville, Pa., Grace Brethren Church; and Larry Orme, Northern Atlantic, Penn Valley Church, Telford, Pa., campus. From the Central Region are: Joe Cosentino, Northeastern Ohio, Canton, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church, and Danny Wright, Tri-State, Grace Church, Greenville, Ohio.
Four new churches will be recommended as new members of the FGBC. They include:
- Movement Church: Hilliard, Ohio (Pastor Mark Artrip)
- LifeSprings: Twinsburg, Ohio (Pastor Ron Boehm)
- The Point of Grace Church: Leonardtown, Md. (Pastor Arthur Shepherd)
- Fraternity Family Worship Center: Sunrise, Fla. (Pastor Odiclair Joseph)
Click here for a complete schedule for Vision2020 South.
For regular reports from Vision2020 South, see graceconnect.us or follow GraceConnectUs on Facebook.