By Mark A. Taylor
Barney Wells summarized the Energizing Smaller Churches Network challenge at an October ESCN conference. “Being where God wants you is more important than being where it looks good,” he told the crowd gathered for the event at Cincinnati Christian University. “You can”t get in a place so small that God can”t work there.”
All of us who heard him left eager to seek God”s direction, even if it leads away from big cities, well-known congregations, or obvious opportunities. “Small” does not need to equal “unimportant” or “inconsequential,” especially where God is guiding. That”s the message of the ESCN.
Church leaders from out-of-the-way places have received encouragement and practical help for several years at ESCN conferences. The lineup for 2009 will again offer them the chance to fellowship with other leaders in similar situations, discover ideas and insights to boost their effectiveness, and reaffirm their conviction that God can do big things in small places.
Each ESCN conference offers a pleasing mix of small-group instruction and larger-group inspiration. An improved format next year will give more time for questions and answers with the conference main speaker and workshops led by Standard Publishing hosts Shawn McMullen or me in addition to local leaders.
“You”re all getting inside my head to help me think better,” one Indiana minister wrote after the Cincinnati event. Better thinking leads to more effective serving. It”s happening in many places because of ESCN.
For more information about next year”s conferences, go to www.ESCNetwork.org.
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ESCN Conferences: Spring and Summer 2009
January 30
Iowa/Neb. Christian Convention
Omaha, Nebraska
Main Speaker: Ben Merold
Host: Shawn McMullen
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February 28
Boise Bible College
Boise, Idaho
Main Speaker: Tom Ellsworth
Host: Shawn McMullen
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February 28
Emmanuel Institutes
Johnson City, Tennessee
Main Speaker: Ben Merold
Host: Mark Taylor
April 4
Alberta Bible College
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Main Speaker: David Roadcup
Host: Shawn McMullen
April 4
Oregon Christian Convention
Turner, Oregon
Main Speaker: Paul Williams
Host: Mark Taylor
April 25
Christian Student Fellowship
Muncie, Indiana
Main Speaker: Tom Ellsworth
Host: Shawn McMullen
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July 31
Maritime Christian College
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Main Speaker: Ben Merold
Host: Mark Taylor
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