Oregon-Idaho Leadership Institute 2012

Eric Geiger serves as the Vice President of the Church Resource Division at LifeWay Christian Resources. Prior to LifeWay, Eric served local churches, most recently investing eight years as the executive pastor of Christ Fellowship Miami. Eric received his doctorate in leadership and church ministry from Southern Seminary. He is also a teaching pastor and a frequent speaker and consultant on church mission and strategy. Eric authored or co-authored several books including the best selling church leadership book, Simple Church.

Ministry Workshops — select two to attend during the conference on Friday, March 9 —  each workshop will be offered during both breakout sessions:

1)  Passionate Worship Design:  Learn about planning ahead and designing engaging worship services and sermon series.  In this session you’ll learn about establishing effective meeting agendas, utilizing creative design strategies and developing ways to make the power of scripture connect with the needs of your congregation. (Jenny Willison, Director of Adult Discipleship and Worship Design at Boise FUMC)

2)  Evangelism Strategies:  Learn how to attract and connect visitors, make them feel welcome and how to effectively follow up with them.  Focus on what a welcoming worship experience looks like to the unchurched and how to invite others to grow in their faith. (Cindy Todeschi, Director of Outreach and Evangelism at Boise FUMC)

3)  Relevant Mission & Outreach:  Jesus called all of us to serve the least of these, but what specifically is your church being called to do in your community and beyond?  This workshop will help you identify your church’s unique gifts and how you can use them to move people into ministry to serve and create disciples for Jesus Christ.(Duane Anders, Sr. Pastor at Stillwater UMC, Dayton, OH)

4)  Youth Ministry:  Securing Our Future:  Who is Lady Gaga?  This workshop will dispel the myth that every church needs a young, hip, youth leader!  Learn ways to energize your congregation to care for youth…not just to know their culture, but to know who they are and why they are important in God’s kingdom. (Ric Shewell, Youth Pastor, Boise FUMC)

5)  Simplifying Church Structure:  Let’s have a meeting about all our meetings!  Learn about simplifying governance so that your church can be about the business of putting people into active ministry.  Embrace the process of decision making and cultivate leaders without stifling their creativity all while doing the work of the church with efficiency. (John Tucker, Sr. Pastor at Medford UMC, OR)

6)  Streamlining the Discipleship Process:   Building a process and keeping it simple!  In keeping with Eric Geiger’s message and returning to God’s process for making disciples, explore a simple church model and design a blueprint for your church setting. (Sam Pile, Director of Adult Education, Meridian UMC)

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Thursday, March 8, 2012

1:00pm — Registration begins

2:00-5:00pm — Eric Geiger meets with pastors (all others are invited to attend as well)

5:00-6:15pm — Dinner in Fellowship Hall

6:30-9:00pm — General Session with Eric Geiger

Friday, March 9, 2012

8:30-11:00am — General Session with Sue Nilson Kibbey

11:15am-12:15pm — BREAKOUT SESSION — Select one ministry-specific workshop when you register.

12:15-1:15pm — Lunch in Fellowship Hall

1:30-2:30pm — BREAKOUT SESSION — Select a second ministry-specific workshop when you register.

2:45-4:00pm — General Session (cont.) with Sue Nilson Kibbey

4:00-5:00pm — Meet with your own church team or with affinity groups to network and share ideas.

5:00-6:00pm — Dinner in Fellowship Hall

6:15-8:00 — Closing Session with Sue Nilson Kibbey

For more information and registration, click here.