“Take Him Personally” is the theme for the 2011 State Evangelism Conference, Jan. 24-25 at Moore, First, 301 N.E. 27th St.
Building on MY316, next year’s conference will focus on the serving part of the witnessing program, which was developed by the evangelism group of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
The 2010 Evangelism Conference, where MY316 was introduced, was a challenge to pray for the lost. The theme verse will be another John 3:16, this time 1 John 3:16—“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (NKJV)
The 2011 Conference, beginning with a vocational evangelists’ session on Monday morning, will feature eight speakers. Sessions will end on Tuesday evening.
Speaking will be Ken Ellis, team leader, People Group/Interfaith Evangelism, North American Mission Board, Alpharetta, Ga; Kevin Hamm, pastor, First Church, Gardendale, Ala.; Robert Jeffress, pastor, First Church, Dallas, Texas; Nelson Searcy, pastor, The Journey Church, New York City, N.Y.; Ed Stetzer, president, LifeWay Research, Nashville, Tenn.; Lee Strobel, Christian apologist, Denver, Colo.; Bob Waitman, pastor, Cross Brand Cowboy Church, Waurika, and Afshin Ziafat, evangelist, Dallas, Texas.
Music will be under the direction of Randy Lind, worship leader at Oklahoma City, Southern Hills.
“The theme and scripture are variations from last year’s conference where MY316 was introduced,” said Tim Gentry, BGCO evangelism group leader. “Though MY316 is continuing with John 3:16, the state evangelism conference is using 1 John 3:16 to focus on the serving aspect of MY316.”
Gentry also said besides the connection to John 3:16, the 316 also represents three people to pray for, one thing to share with them and six ways to serve them.
“The speakers, workshops, testimonies and videos will be interpreting this theme of taking Jesus out into the neighborhoods, schools and communities surrounding the churches,” Gentry said. “Each pastor, church leader and lay person will be challenged at the conference to commit to doing a ministry evangelism project in their community by Easter, April 24, 2011.”
Tuesday morning’s session will feature two breakout sessions, as well as an ethnic breakout session.
Gentry said there is early interest in a workshop to be presented by Tim Elmore, president and founder of Growing Leaders and author of Habitudes and Generation iY.
“In addition to leading a workshop, Elmore will be speaking at a luncheon at noon on Tuesday on ways you can reach the emerging generation,” Gentry said.
Registration for the luncheon opened Dec. 1 at www.bgco.org/evangelism. Cost is $5 and space is limited.
