Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) will host its third Regional Outreach Conference May 13-14 at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel in Branson, Mo.
Designed to “train and encourage God’s people to be mission-minded witnesses for Jesus Christ,” the two-day events feature guest speakers, breakout sessio
The first conference, held Feb. 18-19 in Phoenix, was attended by a sold-out crowd of 300. More than 400 attended the second conference, March 18-19 in Alexandria, Minn. Five additional conferences are scheduled for fall and winter.
In commenting on the first Regional Outreach Conference (ROC), LHM Executive Director Bruce Wurdeman said, “The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Our staff, our district partners and our participants from congregations throughout the region brought tremendous energy to Phoenix, and we saw it just grow under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
“It’s great to see the ROC series begin with such momentum; we’re eager to see what God has in store for the rest of the series.”
Mike Kenyon of Irvine, Calif., who attended the Phoenix ROC, said it was a great opportunity “to share ideas and resources with other mission-minded people and to encourage each other on spreading the Gospel not only in our cities but around the world.”
Speakers at the upcoming event in Branson will include Dr. Reed Lessing, director of the graduate school at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; Dr. Mark Larson, LHM division director for U.S. Ministries; Dr. Douglas Rutt, LHM division director of International Ministries; Rev. Greg Bearss, pastor of Lake Pointe Lutheran Church, Little Rock, Ark.; Rev. Quentin Poulson, director of Mission and Educat
“People have expressed a great deal of thanks for the mindset shift they receive through their ROC training,” said Spelbring. “Speakers gently challenge participants to come at outreach from a different angle. People are literally taking home what they learn and putting it into practice right away.”
Devotions will be led by “These Guys,” a trio of LCMS church workers who use improvisational comedy and drama to look at Christian life from their own unusual perspective.
The conference will offer a witnessing-training track for teens, an outreach-themed children’s program and various recreational opportunities, including a Friday night concert by Indie jazz recording artist Erin Bode.
Registration fees are $69 for adults, $49 for teenagers (Grades 8-12) and $29 for children (Grades K-7). A special “family rate” that includes two adults and all the children in the household is available for $175. There is no charge for the Saturday infant and toddler program for children preschool age and younger.
The fee includes main-stage and breakout sessions, the Friday night concert, lunch and dinner on Saturday, access to resources in each exhibit area and continued training after the conference ends.
Lodging is an additional cost. To make arrangements, contact the conference center directly and mention “Lutheran Hour Ministries.” Reservations must be made by April 30 to receive the reduced conference rate at the Hilton Branson.
Future outreach conferences are scheduled for:
- Sept. 9-10 in Chicago;
- Oct. 7-8 in Lancaster, Pa.;
- Nov. 4-5 in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and
- Jan. 13-14, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.
LHM’s Regional Outreach Conferences also will be held in Canada on dates to be announced.
To register and to learn more about the conferences, visit www.lhm.org/roc.
Posted April 20, 2011
