Thank you for prioritizing "sending" today and making the gospel the focus of what you are all about. Converge North Central focuses on "starting and strengthening" churches. Yet, God's kingdom has expanded based on our long history of sending and our current worldwide gospel impact that flows from many Converge North Central churches.
Today we are blessed to be led by Converge International Ministries and hosted by Westwood Community Church. Thank them for hosting!
I'm still meeting and getting to know many of you through my new role as Regional President, so please introduce yourself. I look forward to getting to know you.
Together with you, we want to be all about "Kingdom expansion!" So may our movement remain "gospel-centric," and we trust you will find Converge North Central to be relationally generous as we seek to serve you our churches with humility and wisdom.
In Christ,
Mark Bjorlo
Regional President, Converge North Central
Schedule
Registration & continental breakfast
7:45–8:30 a.m.
Opening session
8:30–9:45 a.m.
Break
9:45–10 a.m.
Breakout session 1
10–10:45 a.m.
Breakout session 2
10:55–11:40 a.m.
Breakout session 3
11:50 a.m.–12:35 p.m.
Closing session & lunch
12:45–1:30 p.m.
SESSION 1
Select one of the following breakout sessions to attend. View campus map
Africa - Sub Saharan // Auditorium
Asia // Room 1
Europe & Mediterranean // Room 3
Latin America // Room 2
North America - Diaspora // Room 4
Small church, BIG impact! (for churches of 300 or less)
Speakers: Kevin McGhee & Candace Fish
ROOM 4
The Apostle Paul told the church he planted in Ephesus that God had important work “prepared in advance” for them to do. God has uniquely equipped the people in every church with unique passions, skills and resources that He gathered that the nations might know him. In this breakout session (grouped by church size), you will learn how your church can increase its Great Commission impact while at the same time creating renewed spiritual vitality at home.
Effective short term mission strategies in a COVID world
Speakers: Chaz Nichols & Anna Barnett
ROOM 1
In this session, veteran mission leaders will share short term missions best practices and discuss how COVID has changed things—but not as much as many think. Short term teams—in person and virtual—can make a lasting Kingdom impact.
Your Acts 13 moment: becoming a church that sends well
Speaker: Tania Martin
ROOM 2
Knowledgeable missions leaders estimate that that 1-4% of the members of every church have the necessary spiritual gifts and cross-cultural acumen to become effective global workers. In this session, you will learn how Converge can be your partner to see these leaders from your church called, assessed, coached and deployed for years of fruitful ministry.
From Good Intentions to Real Results – effective missiology for the 21st century
Speaker: Ivan Velduizen
ROOM 3
There is a famous book about When Helping Hurts. Far too often, local church missions programs are random, reactive and (while they may help their participants feel good) produce only minimal lasting fruit. In this session led by the vice president of Converge International Ministries, you will learn of Holy Spirit led strategies that can empower every local church to mature in their efforts to reach the nations for Christ.
Releasing your churches untapped missions potential (for churches larger than 300)
Speakers: Kevin McGhee & Candace Fish
ROOM 4
The Apostle Paul told the church he planted in Ephesus that God had important work “prepared in advance” for them to do. God has uniquely equipped the people in every church with unique passions, skills and resources that He gathered that the nations might know him. In this breakout session (grouped by church size), you will learn how your church can increase its Great Commission impact while at the same time creating renewed spiritual vitality at home.
Effective short term mission strategies in a COVID world
Speakers: Chaz Nichols & Anna Barnett
ROOM 1
In this session, veteran mission leaders will share short term missions best practices and discuss how COVID has changed things—but not as much as many think. Short term teams—in person and virtual—can make a lasting Kingdom impact.
Your Acts 13 moment: becoming a church that sends well
Speaker: Tania Martin
ROOM 2
Knowledgeable missions leaders estimate that that 1-4% of the members of every church have the necessary spiritual gifts and cross-cultural acumen to become effective global workers. In this session, you will learn how Converge can be your partner to see these leaders from your church called, assessed, coached and deployed for years of fruitful ministry.
From Good Intentions to Real Results – effective missiology for the 21st century
Speaker: Ivan Velduizen
ROOM 3
There is a famous book about When Helping Hurts. Far too often, local church missions programs are random, reactive and (while they may help their participants feel good) produce only minimal lasting fruit. In this session led by the vice president of Converge International Ministries, you will learn of Holy Spirit led strategies that can empower every local church to mature in their efforts to reach the nations for Christ.
Campus Map
Take the next step
We are asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group — in our generation. Join others in becoming a vital partner in seeing Christ's mission completed.
Global Prayer Networks
Join us in prayer for people groups around the world to hear and accept the good news. Join a prayer network >
We can help your church discover and fulfill its God-designed global role through our simple, but profound coaching and training processes. Learn more >
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Serving churches. Reaching nations.
We are partnering with churches like yours to reach the least-reached tribes, tongues and nations from east to west. Together, we are asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group — in our generation.
The Converge U.S. Engagement team exists to serve your church and help it connect to the world’s least-reached peoples and to other like-minded churches. We are here to serve you as we serve God and his people together. We provide all of our services at no cost to your church.