Greg Finke is the founder and Executive Director of Dwelling 1:14 and author of books, Joining Jesus on His Mission: How to Be an Everyday Missionary and, Joining Jesus – Show Me How: How to Disciple Everyday Missionaries. Dwelling 1:14 is a non-profit ministry which helps leaders disciple people to join Jesus on his mission in the places they already live, work and go to school. The name Dwelling 1:14 refers to John 1:14 and the incarnational, missional nature both of Jesus and those who would follow him into the world. Greg offers consulting and training experiences for congregations and their leaders in discipling, living missionally, and multiplying missional community environments.

 

Greg will be delivering a keynote entitled Mission of the Cross. Often times people simply look at the cross through the lens of personal salvation and live life primarily on the sidelines of God’s activity in the world. But Greg will show us how Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross not only saves us, but also gives us a mission and compels us to live on the frontlines of God’s Kingdom building activity in our own communities. Using Ephesians 2:8-10 as his foundation, Greg will educate and inspire us towards an exciting new way of living as everyday missionaries in our local communities.

 

Greg is a graduate of Concordia University, Chicago and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Before founding Dwelling 1:14, he served as pastor of two congregations in Michigan and Texas for 21 years. Greg and his wife, Susan, have three daughters and enjoy life as neighborhood missionaries in League City, Texas.

 

 

Mark Vander Tuig serves as the Service Coordinator for Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ. He is an ambassador for Jesus’ Great Commission everywhere he goes. On the move a lot, Mark endures countless hours in airports and airplanes, rental cars and hotels, to do his best to help churches keep the mission of Jesus ever before them and to teach people how to share their faith with others. He defines his personal calling to “strengthen the congregations we have and to plant the ones we don’t.”

 

Mark will be presenting a keynote entitled, CrossTalk. All around the world, Christians find themselves surrounded by people who either have never met Jesus or are not connected to a local church. Mark will present research that indicates that while most are hesitant to walk in the doors of a church, that does not mean they are not interested or curious about faith. Then, he will help to identify ways to talk about Jesus that are normal and natural to us. He believes that God has placed us in this world to be his witnesses and it is time for us to once again find our voice.

 

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, Mark served as pastor of three congregations in Minnesota and Iowa prior to accepting the call to be Service Coordinator in 2010. Mark and his wife, Candice, reside in Altoona, Iowa and are the proud parents of two grown daughters, Laura and Emily, and even more proud grandparents of Elliot, Joel, and Hannah.

 

 

Daniel Emery Price serves as the National Conference Director for 1517 and oversees and directs the Here We Still Stand Conference annually. 1517 strives to oversee and empower a variety of theological resource platforms including a podcast network, a publishing house, an online Academy, a speaker network and an annual national conference. Through each platform, 1517 seeks to provide a message of hope to strengthen individuals and congregations, as well as model ways of engaging the culture in a manner that is thoughtful, courageous, and Christ-centered. Daniel is also an author, a church and conference speaker, and co-host of the podcasts 40 Minutes in the Old Testament and 30 Minutes in the New Testament. Together with Erick Sorensen, Daniel has co-authored a recently released book, Scandalous Stories: A Sort of Commentary on Parables.

 

In his keynote entitled Cross-Examined, Daniel will offer insight into living unashamed and forgiven lives in light of the cross as followers of Jesus. It is vital for the mission of the church that disciples of Jesus stop hiding from our own sin in shame and instead be honest with ourselves and others about the pain and brokenness of real life and the triumph of God’s grace and mercy in the midst of the mess. By letting the light of God’s grace expose the darkness, our lives can be examined by the cross and true freedom can be found.

 

Prior to dedicating himself full-time to para-church work, Daniel had previously served as a church planter, pastor, and worship leader. He currently lives in Northwest Arkansas with his wife and their daughter.

 

 

 

 

We are excited to announce our second annual YOUTH GATHERING for ALL STUDENTS grades 6-12! Students will grow in their faith through learning from inspiring presenters and doing ministry with others their own age from across the state! Along the way, they’ll meet lots of new friends, have fun, eat some great food, and be encouraged to live faithfully in their everyday lives.

 

Coinciding with the Annual Gathering, the Youth Gathering has its own schedule (in this packet). Cost is just $25 and includes snacks, lunch on Saturday, and a t-shirt. Transportation and lodging will be the responsibility of each church and/or family. Please spread the word about this awesome opportunity for your students!

 

Questions? Contact Bryce Formwalt: 512-942-7776 or bryce@lcmctexas.org.

 

 

Do you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews? Do you ever worry about their safety? Please join the Ladies of Faith for the Pre-Gathering Women’s Seminar on Friday from 1:00 to 4:30 pm. Together, we will learn about a nationwide safety program called radKids presented by Guadalupe County Child Advocacy Center Executive Director, Christy Williams. You will also learn the role of a Child Advocacy Center in your community and how you and your church can help. We will have the opportunity to tour the new Child Advocacy Center facility in Seguin!! And, in addition, women from across Texas will have the opportunity to fellowship with one another and discuss the ministries women are engaging in through their local congregations. All women are encouraged to attend. Please make sure you add the “Pre-Gathering Women’s Seminar” option onto your ticket when you register. Cost is just $10!

 

 

Pitmasters from Faith, Seguin will be preparing a BBQ feast as a dinner option on Friday night. Dinner will be served from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. Advance tickets may be purchased with registration for just $10. Price at the door will be $15. Proceeds from the BBQ Feast will go to benefit Latin American Lutheran Mission based out of Laredo, TX.

 

Are you ready for some practical, concrete steps that you can take to join Jesus on His Mission in your everyday life? Then this breakout is for you! Building upon his keynote, Greg will provide next steps to help you discover and answer God’s call for you to join him in mission. There will also be a time for questions and answers. Offered Sessions 1 & 2

 

Before God created his church, before he established the nation, he established marriage and the family. Marriage is a big deal and has profound impact on our nation and on your congregation. What is the status of marriage in America? What do people in your congregation know, believe, and demonstrate about marriage? How can your congregation help? Offered Sessions 1 & 2

 

Being prepared takes forethought, planning and action. Learn how to be successful with your finances now so that you can retire comfortably. LCMC has established the LCMC 403(b) Retirement Plan to ensure your future is secure. Offered Session 2

 

God offered fellowship to us, but we were caught up in the brokenness of our sin (self-centered nature). What God has offered us in Jesus is a life of renewed fellowship bought by the blood of our rescuer and the presence and invitation of the Holy Spirit. Our words reflect that fellowship with God and each other. Offered Sessions 1 & 2

 

Incidents of violence against churches have risen almost 2,400% since 1999! How is your church working to protect the flock? This session will show you how to make strategic decisions to improve its safety and security without compromising the church’s core mission. Every church needs to have a safety plan and be made aware of the insurance coverages needed to protect the church and those who serve in it. In this session you will see the practical resources that can meet the needs of any size church in any setting. Offered Sessions 1 & 2

 

The heart of the Christian faith is an easy thing to get wrong. Debates over holiness, sanctification and what we should and should not do often eclipse the radical center of everything God has done for us. The theology of the cross calls us back to a faith rooted in the blood-soaked cross of Christ and invites us to be honest about ourselves, our sin and our savior. Offered Sessions 1 & 3

 

Faithfulness is God’s measure of success for the Church. How then do we develop faithful stewards? We don’t. God does. But God uses us to call our fellow brothers and sisters to take God up on His promises, model faithfulness, and remember the definition of success. This breakout will offer a biblical examination of God’s promises, and a practical way to structure a congregational stewardship emphasis. Offered Sessions 1 & 3

 

Do you hear Jesus calling you? As a Stephen Minister, Jesus will take each step with you on this journey. He will go ahead of you to prepare the way. Jesus will give you joy to minister to people who simply need a “listening” ear and maybe a little guidance. Come and learn how you can answer God’s call through Stephen Ministries. Offered Sessions 1 & 3