Come join us for this journey into a more expansive and authentic understanding and practice of evangelism!

For too long, evangelism has been used to grow our churches or convert people to a certain way of believing in God. This expression of evangelism has hurt many people and promoted injustice. We will explore how we are called to embody the good news of God’s healing and compassion through A Lifestyle that Exudes Justice!

* Spend time together in worship, with preaching by Rev. Dr. Debra J. Mumford (Dean of Louisville Seminary).

* Gather for plenary sessions with Rev. Dr. Elaine A. Heath (co-author of Trauma-Informed Evangelism: Cultivating Communities of Wounded Healers).

* Engage with gifted workshop leaders: In-Person Attendees will choose 3 workshops to attend during the conference. All 5 workshops will be recorded and made available online to both Virtual & In-Person Attendees to watch when convenient.

* Three meals are included in the cost of In-Person registration and will be provided in the Presbyterian Center: Thursday Dinner, Friday Lunch, Saturday Boxed Lunch.

Registration Fee:

In-Person: $175  Virtual: $75 

 **Spanish and Korean simultaneous interpretation will be available if requested in your online registration.

Presbyterian Center

100 Witherspoon St, Louisville, KY 40202

Accessibility:

The Presbyterian Center can be entered directly from the street/sidewalk on Washington St (between 1st and 2nd St), or accessed by ramp from Witherspoon St. (entrance shown in photo above). If you walk from the Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn & Suites, the Washington St. entrance will be closest. All floors of the Presbyterian Center can be reached by elevator, and both accessible and gender-neutral bathrooms are available.

Virtual Attendees will join via Zoom for the Worship Services and Plenary Sessions each day (see below).

You will receive an email a few days before the start of the conference with the Zoom link to join these sessions.

The 5 workshops will be recorded during the Friday morning session and will be available later Friday for virtual attendees to watch when convenient. Recordings of all 3 worship services and 2 plenary sessions will also be available to both virtual & in-person attendees after the conference concludes.

(all times Eastern Daylight Time)

Thu, Oct 3

4:00—5:15 pm               Opening Worship & Welcome

7:00—8:00 pm               Plenary I

Fri, Oct 4

9:00—9:30 am               Morning Worship

11:30 am—12:30 pm     Plenary II

Sat, Oct 5

11:00 am—12:00 pm    Closing Worship

 In-Person Attendees will choose 3 workshops to attend during the conference. All 5 workshops will be recorded and made available online to both Virtual & In-Person Attendees.

The topics for the 5 workshops offered during the conference are centered around Matthew 9:35-38:

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages,

teaching in their synagogues

and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom

and curing every disease and every sickness.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them

because they were harassed and helpless,

like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples,

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

therefore ask the Lord of the harvest

to send out laborers into his harvest.”

TEACHING: A Lifestyle that Exudes Justice      …teaching in their synagogues   

Workshop Leader: Rev. Neema Cyrus-Franklin

Join us for an inspiring workshop that delves into the transformative power of faith formation within the home environment. In today's dynamic world, where the pursuit of justice and the spread of the Gospel are more crucial than ever, understanding the pivotal role of faith within our households is essential. We will explore how the Around the Table Initiative cultivates faith formation within households and serves as a potent tool for evangelism and social justice. Through interactive discussions, practical examples, and insightful teachings, attendees will gain valuable insights for integrating faith into everyday practices, fostering an environment where the Gospel thrives, and justice is pursued and nurtured within the household setting. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, faith leader, or simply passionate about spreading the message of love and justice, this workshop will set participants on a journey of discovery, empowerment, and transformation, equipping ourselves to become agents of change within our households and beyond.

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PREACHING: A Lifestyle that Exudes Justice               …proclaiming the good news of the kingdom

Workshop Leader: Rev. Andries Coetzee

At the core of justice-exuding preaching is the preacher's wholehearted, embodied presence. When we show up as our undivided selves, our words ignite creativity, joy, compassion, mercy, and justice. Lasting justice demands that we bring nothing less than our whole, courageous selves. We will start by embracing our authenticity, allowing justice to exude from our lives. You will further cultivate your ability to create a spirituality of profound acceptance in your preaching and worship leadership--empowering a lifestyle that exudes justice, mercy, and liberation through wholehearted engagement. Join this workshop as we reimagine preaching as a powerful catalyst for change.

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HEALING & HEALTH: A Lifestyle that Exudes Justice     …curing every disease and every sickness

Workshop Leaders: Rev. Brooke Scott & Mikyle Johnson

There are certainly opportunities throughout the holy scriptures for us to learn from Jesus how to interact with our neighbors experiencing mental health crisis. There are also ways in which Jesus Christ teaches us how to put our own mental wellness at the forefront of the work we are called to do. In this workshop we will explore through scriptures and personal experiences how to assist and be assisted in making the mental health in our community a priority.

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COMPASSION: A Lifestyle that Exudes Justice                                     …he had compassion for them  

Workshop Leader: Rev. Elmer Zavala                                                

 **This workshop will be presented in Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation in English.

What does it mean to be church? Often when we think of “church” we think of worship on Sundays. In this workshop we will talk about the importance of moving as a community of faith to be the church in everyday life. We will explore what it can mean to accompany the broader community in practical ways, outside the church building. What does it mean to budget in favor of the vulnerable? How can we be a community of faith that does not mind getting dirty that which seems “sacred?” Drawing from experiences with Mid-Kentucky Presbytery's Preston Highway Hispanic/Latino Presbyterian Ministry, we will reflect together on how the Church can embody the compassion revealed in Jesus: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36, NRSVUE)

COMPASIÓN: Un Estilo de Vida que Exhala Justicia                              …tuvo compasión de ellas  

Líder del Taller: Rev. Elmer Zavala                                                     

**Este taller será en español, con interpretación simultánea al inglés.

¿Qué significa ser iglesia? A menudo cuando pensamos en la “iglesia,” pensamos en el culto los domingos. En este taller vamos a hablar de la importancia que tiene de movernos como comunidad de fe a ser iglesia desde lo cotidiano, acompañando a la comunidad amplia de formas prácticas, fuera del templo. ¿Qué significa poner el presupuesto en favor de los vulnerables? ¿Cómo podemos ser comunidad de fe que no dé importancia a ensuciar lo “sagrado”? Desde la base de experiencias con el Ministerio Presbiteriano Hispano/latino de Preston Highway del Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, reflexionaremos juntos sobre cómo la Iglesia puede encarnar la compasión revelada en Jesús: Y al ver las multitudes, tuvo compasión de ellas; porque estaban desamparadas y dispersas como ovejas que no tienen pastor. (Mateo 9:36)

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EVANGELISM: A Lifestyle that Exudes Justice                      …send out laborers into his harvest

Workshop Leader: Rev. Veronica Cannon                                                      

In this workshop, we will explore the world of Evangelism by asking and answering questions about the importance of evangelism in the church. What is evangelism? Why is evangelism important, why do it? Who are the sent and who does the sending? Where do we go to do the important work of evangelism? Mark 2 of the Vital Congregations Initiative is Intentional Authentic Evangelism. We delve more deeply into this Mark as we seek connections between the church and the world and how those connections lead us to spaces of justice for other creatures of Almighty God. We will make connections to other Marks of the Vital Congregations Initiative and how they work together to help us become the church that exudes a lifestyle of justice for the people of God by the people of God.

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