VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 6/18/13)—Individuals who are considering a call to global missionary service, or who are in the process of responding to such a call will be participating in the “Embrace the Cause” conference August, 9-12 at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin. The conference is sponsored by American Baptist International Ministries (IM).
During this high-intensity three-day weekend, about 40 participants will explore God’s call on their lives with experienced missionaries, global leaders and IM staff, many of whom are former missionaries themselves.
“Embracing My Call” will be the topic of two morning sessions led by the Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer, executive minister and senior regional pastor of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey. Author of books on discipleship and the spiritual journey, Spitzer has preached the gospel and taught on spirituality in the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Brazil, Egypt, the Congo, Zambia, Uganda and Haiti.
Part 1 of Spitzer’s two-session workshop will focus on “Embracing My Call – A Spiritual Journey Perspective.” The group will explore the following questions:
· How do I discern if it is God’s will to become a missionary?
· How does God prepare a person to become a missionary?
· How do I discover where God wants me to serve and what ministries I should embrace?
In Part 2 “Embracing My Call – A Friendship Circles Perspective,” Spitzer will delve more deeply into critical relational aspects of missionary service. The group will discuss:
· How will my possible call impact my circles of friendship?
· How do I communicate my possible call to my friends and other people?
· How do I enhance and grow my friendship circles as I embrace my missionary call?
“We are very excited about Lee’s topics,” noted Rev. Jim Bell, IM’s director of Recruitment. “It will encourage prospective missionaries to really attend to their need to cultivate spiritual and relational vitality for long-term missionary service.”
Other featured speakers include: Rev. Dr. Stan Slade, IM global consultant Theological Education and IM associate executive director Program, and Dr. Reid Trulson, IM executive director and former missionary in Europe. The worship leader is Mr. Jared Messer, various worship leader at churches and events for over 20 years.
In addition to the workshops, participants will take part in worship, inspirational messages, interactive sessions and personal reflection time. They will combine to make this a powerful discernment experience. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of next steps.
To see the full schedule, read biographies on the speakers and to register, go to http://www.internationalministries.org/read/47661-embrace-the-cause-retreat.
The cost for the three-day conference is $80, plus meals and housing. Limited scholarship help is available from International Ministries. Write to recruitment@internationalministries.org or call 800 222-3872 ext. 2245.
For more information, contact Jim Bell: jim.bell@abc-usa.org.
American Baptist International Ministries was organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America. It began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God, and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.