Come be with us at the 2012 ARC Annual Conference! 

At our last annual conference a year ago in Toledo, the ARC elders made a decision to focus the next number of years on the central elements of DISCIPLESHIP.  We identified Worship, Community and Outreach in particular as the places where we will focus in the next three years.

Our approach to WORSHIP (think "offer your bodies as living sacrifices" more than "singing") will address the heart of a worshipper along the lines that Jesus spoke of in John 4:23-24 - "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Worship is the posture by which a believer perceives his or her relationship to God, and it is the means by which a worshipper becomes like God.

During the past year, I connected with Dave Johnson, Senior Pastor of Church of the Open Door in a northern Minneapolis suburb.  Dave's been there for over 30 years, and would be considered one of the more gifted Bible teachers in the Twin Cities area. During our budding relationship this year, we found ourselves at length talking through the Beatitudes. Dave's spiritual depth in this critical Scripture section was, and is, very compelling to me. Consequently, I asked him if he would be open to share many of these truths with us in the ARC as we engage this matter of worship in Spirit and truth. Dave's weight in the Scriptures and his teaching will help us all to gain some needed divine insight. 

Besides the five plenary talks that Dave will give, we have our annual array of really helpful workshops, wonderful times of corporate worship, and the vital give and take that occurs naturally in just being together.  

Please come, and think about bringing some friends with you!  This will be good stuff.

Ned Berube, President

Workshops offered this year:

(WS 1) PREACHING AS DISCIPLESHIP (Andy Holt) 
Whether we like it or not, the sermon is the most important element of our weekly worship services. The proclamation of the Word of God is formative, both for the individuals in our congregations and for the culture of our churches. Embracing this reality and preaching for the purpose of discipleship will create deeper and richer spiritual formation in your community.

(WS 2) QUANTUM UNDERPINNINGS FOR FAITH (Susan Berube) 
How and why studying science, especially quantum physics, has invigorated my faith. 

(WS 3) EMBRACING THE WORD OF GOD (Tom Kelby)
A call for Christians—and especially leaders—to relate to the Word in an old-world way.

(WS 4) PROMOTING COMMUNITY THROUGH HOSPITALITY (Catherine Weis) 
Food is one of the most elemental aspects of human life.  Sharing a meal with another person is a very basic and fundamental way to show that person you care about him/her.  Preparing a meal in your home and inviting friends, acquaintances and sometimes total strangers to share that meal provides a setting in which you can demonstrate the love of Christ, enjoy meaningful fellowship and share the Gospel.  Scripture encourages us to be hospitable, and for women, this often comes very naturally.  This workshop will explore the Scriptural teaching on hospitality, and help participants develop creative ways to extend Christian hospitality.  Come to the workshop prepared to share your great hospitality hints, time-savers and testimonies!

(WS 5) LITURGY: REHEARSING GOD'S STORY (Rodney Shores) 

(WS 6) RELATIONAL EVANGELISM (Carla Hale)
When we develop trusted relationships, we gain access to the intimate parts of a persons life. This allows us to speak to the specific pain points in their lives, instead of an overall "broadcast" message. Just as Jesus modeled with Zaccheus, we can intentionally live our lives with friends and family in such a way as to be a reflection of Christ. 

(WS 7) FAMILY WORSHIP PRACTICES (Ned Berube) 
When God proclaims His law in Deuteronomy 6, he centers it on the impartation of His values through mother and father to the growing children (“…when you sit in your house…when you walk by the way…when you lie down…when you rise”). Although there’s no “perfect way” to do this, there certainly is a call from God to teach His Word and His values to our children.  This workshop will explore a few routes for doing that. 

(WS 8) WOMEN & FRIENDSHIPS (Breena Holt) 
Learning how to not only accept the differences that we have but embrace them in order to come together and serve each other and bring glory to God's name

(WS 9) THE ARC: HISTORY & VALUES (Ray Nethery) 
Reflecting on our history as it impacts what we are doing today. Our DNA as a group of churches cannot be ignored if we want to go where God is.

(WS 10) THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING SOUND THEOLOGY: THE APOSTLES CREED (Doug Rumschlag)
This workshop will cover the importance of equipping believers with orthodox teaching using the Creed as a basis.

Conference Schedule:

Friday, April 20

Saturday, April 21