Organizations &amp; Events

NACC Women”s Conference Returns for a Second Year

by Jennifer Taylor Last year, Judy Russell led a team that planned a new event at the 2008 NACC””a “conference within a conference” just for women. This first NACC Women”s Conference included special events, a “Gathering Place” for conversation and connection, and special promotion. From the workshops to the tea just for minister”s wives, the 2008 team did a great job creating something new for ladies at the North American. Because of the positive response to this programming, the women”s conference will continue at this year”s convention! We”re keeping the best from 2008, adding a few new touches, and planning

February 11, 2009

Interview with Jeff Stone

By Brad Dupray Jeff Stone, president of the 2009 North American Christian Convention, is in his 17th year as senior minister of Discover Christian Church in Dublin, Ohio. Jeff has served on the executive committee of the convention twice before and has been a lifelong attender and supporter of the convention. Jeff and his wife of 28 years, Johnnie, are the proud parents of Jason, Jennifer, and Justin. Why do you go to the North American Christian Convention? I go to the North American to spiritually recharge, to reconnect with friends, and to recalibrate priorities of ministry. Are there any

February 11, 2009

Another Visit with an Old Friend

ABy Mark A. Taylor s I get older I”m frequently surprised by the age of some people I”ve always considered young. Young people are getting older these days! Like Jeff Stone. I remember him well when he was a child. But now he”s the salt-and-pepper-headed president of this year”s North American Christian Convention. He said he wanted some perspectives from “younger leaders” for this special convention preview issue. Good idea. The only problem is that none of the writers this week is under 30, only two are under 40, and at least one of them is closer to 60. But

February 1, 2009

A Great Gathering for God”s Glory (The National Missionary Convention)

By Ziden Nutt From across the Americas and around the world nearly 4,500 people gathered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for inspiration, information, and instruction at the 61st National Missionary Convention, November 20-23. They came to praise God for what he is doing among those who dwell in every tribe and nation. They came from the smallest of language groups and the largest world-class cities, and places in between. Well over 100,000 registered in support of the convention. The program was designed for all ages, from little Johnnie in a stroller to Harland Cary in his 90s who had spoken at the

February 1, 2009

The Honeymoon Express (A Sojourn with the National Missionary Convention)

By Ziden Nutt All three couples scurried around with excitement to make the long journey from Ozark Bible College in Joplin, Missouri, to the 1958 National Missionary Convention in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Jim and Mary Moreland had been married for three days, Kent and Betty Mechem had been married for three weeks, and Helen and I for three months. It is no wonder the students at OBC named it the “honeymoon express.” Tibbs Maxey was president of the convention that year, and the program was extremely challenging. Men like Isaiah Moore, for instance, spoke on “Here Am I, Send Me.”

December 7, 2008

The Looming Christian College Cri$i$

By Doug Gibson There was a time when attending a Christian college was a good deal. When my father attended in the 1950s, the cost of a Bible college education was only slightly higher than that of the local community or state college. I wonder if those days are gone forever. Today”s students pay $10,000 to $20,000 a year for a Christian college education. Admittedly, everything is more expensive than it used to be and the expectations of today”s students in the areas of technology add to the expense, but that is not the primary issue driving student expenses to

November 30, 2008

More Than Fun and Games

By Ben Walker Christian college was extremely enriching, but after three years in the holy huddle, I was champing at the bit at the prospect of reengaging the world. I was excited to step into my first evening class at the secular university I had transferred to, a class from the world religions department that promised an engrossing ideological tour of Buddhism in Southeast Asia.Â The professor opened that first class by asking, “Why are you here? Let”s go around the room and share our interest in this topic.” The first student responded by saying he”d been raised Catholic but

November 2, 2008

Organizations & Events

Hundreds Compete at National Bible Bowl Tourney

By Staff Â “Team 1″ from Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky, won the National Bible Bowl double-elimination tournament held July 1-4 at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Georgia. Other team winners included the squad from Central Christian Church in Ocala, Florida, which won the Beginner Bowl contest, and test-takers from Central Christian Church in Kissimmee, Florida, who scored highest on the Team Written Test. (A more complete list of team and individual winners is at the end.) In addition to the quizzes and tests, evening sessions at the national tournament featured lively worship and compelling speaking. Offerings exceeded $15,000 and

October 12, 2008

The National New Church Conference”s “˜Exponential” Development

By Jennifer Taylor From multisite campuses to nationwide networks, interest in church planting is at a new high. Restoration Movement leaders have been planting churches and sharing their experiences for decades, but this renewed focus on reproducing churches””plus a commitment to cross-denominational collaboration””has made the National New Church Conference the premier church planting event in the country. Â Historical The National New Church Conference (NNCC) first met in 1969 as the “First National Colloquy on New Church Evangelism.” According to John Wasem”s August 2006 article in Christian Standard, 38 people attended this first event held at Great Lakes Bible College

September 24, 2008

Interview with Mike Kilgallin

By Brad Dupray As the newly appointed president of Crossroads College in Rochester, Minnesota, Mike Kilgallin is crafting a vision for what Crossroads College can do for the churches of Minnesota and beyond. Mike brings a broad base of experience to his new role, having served as the senior pastor of churches in Minnesota and Illinois, as the head of the Business Department and as staff development officer at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian College, as a regional vice president with Church Development Fund, and most recently, as the vice president of church and faith-based services with Fifth Third Bank. Mike and

September 21, 2008

NACC Viewpoints: Attendees Are Amazingly Blessed

By Allan Dunbar It is a thrill to see how God uses a variety of logistical impossibilities to put property, people, and programs together to allow those who attend an NACC to be in the center of his blessings. I saw it happen again in Cincinnati this summer””and so did many others. In a quick review of comments from the feedback sheets, I read: “¢ “My husband and I were reluctant to come: short notice, money, children, etc. Couldn”t figure out WHY God wanted us to come. Well, we know now””to transform and look at our ministry from a different

September 21, 2008

NACC Viewpoints: It”s All About the Mission

By Justin Horey Iattended the NACC only once before joining the marketing team at Provision Ministry Group in 2002, so I have little with which to compare today”s conventions. But I have gathered, through my involvement with this high-profile “ministry partner” over the past seven years, that the convention isn”t what it used to be. Before and during the convention, I am often asked, usually in a somber tone, “How are registrations this year?” Apparently the only thing that matters about the convention””at least to those who question me””is the attendance. No one ever asks me who was there, or

September 21, 2008

NACC Viewpoints: A Subjective Observer”s Recommendation

By Gary E. Weedman I like the North American Christian Convention. I have attended since the 1960s and have many great memories of workshops, worship services, and reunions with old friends and former colleagues. I have participated in workshops and twice led morning Bible studies. I have fond memories of sermons that inspired and gave new perspective, of worship services that brought us into the presence of God, and of Communion services that helped us in “discerning the Lord”s body.” So, I”m not a completely objective observer. I”ll try, however, to put on my administrative hat and consider this project

September 21, 2008

Outstanding Christian Leaders Honored at NACC

By Staff Standard Publishing and Milligan College partnered to honor eight outstanding Christian leaders in two separate recognitions at this year”s North American Christian Convention. The Leaders in Christian Service award went to five individuals who have demonstrated servant leadership in their congregations, careers, and communities: Steve and Teresa Bachman, business leaders, members of Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY. Jack Coffee, retired UPS executive, member of Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY. David Hamilton, vice president with Elkins Constructors, member of Christ”s Church in Jacksonville, FL. John Wiggins, Havens Insurance Agency, member of Plainfield (IN) Christian Church. The Student Leader in

September 21, 2008

NACC Viewpoints: What Did You Expect?

By Randy Gariss “So how was the North American?” On the surface, that question seems rather innocuous, but somehow over time that simple inquiry has come to prompt a surprisingly complex and emotional set of responses. When it comes to evaluating a North American Christian Convention, you will hear every answer possible: “It was great!” “It was lacking,” “It was very helpful,” or a frustrated, “I can”t figure out where the NACC is headed!” How can there be such diverse reactions to the same experience? It is probably because our personal expectations for the convention are also extremely varied, and

September 21, 2008

NACC Viewpoints: Teens Need the NACC

By Phyllis Fox The 2008 NACC Teen Convention renewed my hope in God”s promise to “send more workers to the harvest field” as the students in our churches pursue his call for their lives. Here are five reasons why the NACC and our fellowship of churches should be pleased to continue their investment in our students and those who are called to lead them: “¢ Teens want and need to be challenged. On Wednesday night of the convention, the young people heard the message that God”s call isn”t just a career choice but a lifestyle. Following him will take us

September 17, 2008

Should Anything Change About the NACC?

By Mark A. Taylor This year”s North American Christian Convention report offers several different perspectives with conclusions that range all the way from “We need this convention as it is” to “We should combine it with the National Missionary Convention.” We didn”t anticipate or dictate what these writers would say. We simply asked each one to comment on this year”s gathering and then to make suggestions for the future. Cost versus value is an issue mentioned or implied by many of their conclusions. Is the convention worth the price our movement invests in it? Is it worth the cost to

July 30, 2008

Interview with Ken Idleman

By Brad Dupray Ken Idleman served on the faculty and administration of Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, for 34 years””27 as president. In 1992, he became the youngest man ever selected to serve as president of the North American Christian Convention. For the past year Ken has been serving as senior pastor of Crossroads Christian Church in Newburgh, Indiana. He holds graduate and postgraduate degrees from Lincoln (Illinois) Christian College and Seminary and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Milligan College in Tennessee. He and his wife of 40 years, Kaylene, have three grown children and 11 grandchildren. As

July 2, 2008

Interview with Leonard Wymore

By Brad Dupray Leonard Wymore served as convention director of the North American Christian Convention from 1964 to 1986. His expertise in leading such a large venture was developed in his organizing of National Christian Education Conventions for Standard Publishing, beginning in 1956. When the NACC”s Convention Committee asked him to become convention director, their purpose was to combine the forces of the two conventions in order to broaden the appeal of the NACC. Leonard is a graduate of Manhattan (Kansas) Christian College. He and his wife of 63 years, Thelma, attend Hopwood Christian Church in Milligan College, Tennessee. How

July 2, 2008