RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP) – Lifeway Christian Resources’ Black Church Leadership and Family Conference returns for a 33rd year July 20-24 to the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, N.C.
Themed “Renewed,” based on Colossians 3:5-11, the conference is designed to enrich leaders and their families with educational, spiritually enriching and recreational activities designed for adults, children and youth.
Attendees can choose from dozens of morning breakout sessions designed to strengthen leaders of various church and community ministries, attend daily morning Bible studies and worship, and hear evening sermons July 20-23. Special activities designed uniquely for women and men are scheduled throughout the week, with Lifeway Women offering a special event to connect women to the entity’s vast women’s ministry resources.
“This is our 33rd year so we must be doing something right,” said conference convener Mark Croston, Lifeway’s national director of Black Church Ministries. “Come experience God in the beauty of His creation and allow Him to speak to you in a fresh new way.”
Croston will honor former Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter upon his upcoming retirement from the senior pastorate of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church (FABC) in New Orleans, with Luter preaching the Thursday July 25 evening sermon. FABC First Lady Elizabeth Luter will lead one of two Woman 2 Woman afternoon enrichment sessions and two morning breakouts.
“Prior to the (COVID) pandemic, Fred and Elizabeth Luter had never missed a year at this event,” Croston said. “As they are retiring this October, we thought this would be a great time to celebrate their years of ministry.”
Completing the lineup of evening preachers are SBC Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg, preaching Monday, July 20; Vernon Gordon, pastor of The Life Church (non-denominational) in Richmond, Va., preaching Tuesday; Andre Rogers, senior pastor, Concord Fellowship Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C., Wednesday.
“If you are an African American or if you want to learn better how to reach this demographic,” Croston said, “this is the event for you.”
Registration is available here. Children accompanying adults will automatically be registered in preschool, day camp or FUGE Camp, as age appropriate. Additional program information, including other speakers and breakout sessions, is available here.
“This is the one event where you don’t have to leave the family at home,” Croston said.
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