Classes

Some of the Classes at Goiania:

1. Merrill Kitchen, Australia, Christians in Israel and Palestine – the Holy Land.

Christians have been a significant present in the Holy Land since the time of Jesus. Today they are a receding minority making up just 2.3% of the population. This class will tell part of their story.

 

1. Chris Baigent, New Zealand, Resourcing Missions in a Global Recession

Resourcing missions requires a focus on three areas: Our Lord is in control and his name needs to raised to give Him the glory, focusing on empowerment releases Sovereign resources, and fundraising through a focus on vision.

 

1. Michael Householder, USA, Making disciples is for us today and still for all nations.

Come and learn how to make disciples through the Global Disciple Making system. Dr. Householder will introduce you to the system and material that will help you make disciples, and close the back door of your church.

 

1. Robert Wetzel, USA, Believing, Behaving and Belonging.

This class gives an apologetic approach that moves beyond the traditional “reasons for believing” and points to the power of the ethical and communal dimension in coming to faith

 

1. Douglas Foster, Newell Williams, USA, A Global History of the Stone-Campbell Movement.

These editors tell of the forthcoming history that will recognize the beginnings of the Movement in North America and consider its growth across the globe.  It will include the traditional voices of the Movement and the voices of those whose stories have been neglected in previous histories.  And it will be a common story for all expressions of the Movement.

 

1. Mark Weedman, USA, The Apostle Paul and the Priority of Christian Unity

This session will examine the role of church unity in Paul’s theology. We will investigate the ways that, for Paul, unity emerges as one of his most consistent and important themes.

 

1. Craig Brown, Australia, The Outsider Principle

What questions do we need to be ask about our Movement and our churches in order to invite the communities around us to join in our larger story? We need to remember that for many people our story is a bit like starting to watch a film halfway through. With that in mind, we’ll begin to explore the role of the character Ariadne from the film ‘Inception’ – a character who asks the questions that the audience is wanting to know the answers to. As churches, are we asking the questions that people want the answers to?

 

1. Gordon Dabbs, USA, Passion for God Requires Compassion for People

Prestoncrest Church in Dallas, TX has sought to reach out to the broken and needy of our community with the love of JesusThis class will share ideas, projects and ongoing ministries that our congregation is using to touch the lives of the unchurched and hurting around Dallas.

 

1. Gary Weedman, USA,  Education in the Stone-Campbell Movement Worldwide.

This class will take a brief look at the history and current situation regarding higher education in the movement worldwide.

 

1. Brent Liebezeit, New Zealand, The Pastor, the Leader.

This is a personal discovery of who God has called us be and the responsibility of this calling to lead our Churches through change that transforms our communities.

 

1. John Gilmore, Australia, Times of Change and Re-imagining the Future.

Churches of Christ in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific are facing differing challenges as they look to the future. This opportunity is being embraced creatively and with a deep commitment to being renewed in mission and without the loss of identity.

 

1. William Baker, USA, Global Christianity and the Gospel According to James

The Epistle of James has always struggled for its voice to be heard in the church.  Its brevity and lack of early, widespread distribution, made its full acceptance by the early church, particularly in the West, slow.  Today, however, as the face of Christianity becomes more and more global in both numbers and influence and the church in the West recedes in power, the Epistle of James is finding a much more welcoming audience.  African and Asian believers love this little book.  Its potential for being a receptive introduction to Christianity for those devoted to Islam, Buddhism, Confusianism, and even Judiasm is unparalleled by any other New Testament book.  This study will explore the facets of the Epistle of James that make it so attractive to global Christians and a rich resource exposing people from other world faith communities to Christian faith.

 

1. Karen Alexander, USA, Cross Bearing: Litmus for Authentic Discipleship

Imprisoned, yet maintaining a shepherd’s watchful eye, continually a target, yet determined to maintain one focus, Paul sharpens his theology for conflict in Philippians.  Dedicated to walk out the truths he teaches, he calls Christians everywhere to model Christ and do the same.

 

1. Earl Lavender, USA, From Missions to Missional: A Wider Restoration Impluse

As evangelical churches rediscover the call to be the mission of God to the world, many are using “restoration” language to call the church to pre-Constantinian organization and image. The call to restore the active body of Christ in ways that are culturally relevant has led to an increased interest in many themes long embraced by the Restoration Movement. Can our fellowships join hands and lead the larger Christian community in this conversation and renewal?

 

1. Phyllis and Antenor Goncalves, An Urgent Gospel in an Emergent Nation

Antenor and Phyllis, who have been involved in TV, Radio ministry, leadership training, and local ministries in Brazil for over 30 years among Churches of Christ and other religious groups, will talk about a biblical strategy for church growth in this crucial moment of the church and country’s history.

 

1. Saleem Massey, Pakistan, How Even in Persecution We Can Share the Gospel with Muslims

In this class you will learn about Muslim beliefs and practices, see how to respond to Muslims and their objections to Christianity, and learn strategies for sharing Christ.
 

1.  Leonard Thompson, India, Making the Gospel Relevant - A Study in Cross-Cultural Evangelism

How do you share the Gospel with a person who cannot even imagine that God has a Son? Or how do you communicate with someone who sincerely believes in polygamy? Is it possible to make the Gospel reach out to these good people? This study/workshop explores the basics of cross-cultural communication in today’s world and will help in communicating the Gospel to and within cultures that are alien to the communicator.

 

1. Holly Allen, USA, Nurturing Children Spiritually

How can parents nurture their children spiritually? What role does the church play? What does spiritual formation in children look like? How can Sunday school and children’s church cultivate spiritual development in children? What are other ways beyond Sunday school and children’s church that especially nurture children spiritually? What are the very best ways to foster spiritual growth and development in children? You’ll get answers to these questions…and many more!

Class Schedule by Time and Room (subject to change)