This year’s Fall Teaching Conference presented some memorable moments for all those in attendance. We welcomed a new church to our EFCA family. We honored a dear member of our family that was called home to the LORD. Some of our attendees took the Pathways class which teaches a simple practical method of studying the Bible. Randy Widbin offered the Pathways sessions before and after the official FTC schedule. The conference also featured two excellent presenters with engaging themes for those present. It was indeed a full docket this year.
The conference began with “our” Sean McDowell of Constance Free Church in Andover, MN (you had to be there 😊) presenting the current state of the unprecedented church shift based on the book, The Great Dechurching. He detailed the largest religious shift in U.S. history, of people leaving the church, and reasons that may convince them to return. He shared scientifically backed statistics with surprising results. It offered both a sobering reality and yet, a hopeful opportunity to the dechurching phenomenon.
The North Central District Board Chair, Andrew Peterson, led us through an inaugural business session in which the delegates from NCD churches voted unanimously to accept pastor Aaron Downs and Resurrection Church into the NCD family. We are happy to have them join our family and will be introducing them more in the months ahead.
We took some time to mark a milestone in Pastoral Care with the dedication of the Anderson House. In 2020, the NCD and Camp Shamineau made a commitment to build a place of rest, reflection, and restoration for the pastors of the NCD, their wives, and their families in honor of Jim and Lois Anderson for their many years serving. Through many generous donations from individuals, churches, and businesses, and a lot of hard work by the Shamineau staff, the Anderson House is now open!
During this time, Kelley Johnson and Dan Moose reflected on the sacrificial work of Jim and Lois Anderson as they served in EFCA churches for 25 years before returning to the NCD to a ministry of Pastoral Care. Their focus was teaching the importance of regular Sabbath Rest and provided Sabbath Rest Retreats for any who were interested. As they taught us, Sabbath Rest is a weekly time with the Lord to practice the three R’s of Sabbath rest – Release, Review, and Remember. If you would like to learn more about Sabbath Rest, please reach out to Kelley Johnson.
While this was a time of joy and celebration, it was marked with sadness as Jim was not present, as he was called home to be with the Lord on August 5th, 2024. Thankfully, Lois was able to be present and she stepped up to the mic and encouraged those present to build regular, restorative rest into their weekly rhythms.
Ric Rodeheaver of Christ Community Church in Laguna Hills, CA skillfully and passionately reminded us of the preeminent position of the Bible in the church leaders’ life and practice. He began in session one with the biblical identity of the church as the body of Christ, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and the focal point of GOD’s redemptive work. In session two we learned the reality of our limitations as ministers of the gospel and the power of the Word of GOD as Light, Life, and Law. In the last session, Ric encouraged us in our main method of service with the WORD is to always speak the truth in love. This concept from three realities about people in general: we live by stories, most of our problems arise from lies, and we were made to worship.
It was an extreme blessing to have participated in this year’s Fall Teaching Conference. To Tom Vang, a special thanks for leading us in worship and preparing our hearts. A great time was had by all and the fellowship was intimate and edifying. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Fall Teaching Conference and sharing all the many wonderful experiences God will orchestrate.
Sean McDowell – The Great Dechurching Session
